CA2032982C - Method for supplying various departments of shopping centers with department specific information - Google Patents
Method for supplying various departments of shopping centers with department specific informationInfo
- Publication number
- CA2032982C CA2032982C CA002032982A CA2032982A CA2032982C CA 2032982 C CA2032982 C CA 2032982C CA 002032982 A CA002032982 A CA 002032982A CA 2032982 A CA2032982 A CA 2032982A CA 2032982 C CA2032982 C CA 2032982C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- transmitter
- receiver
- infrared
- information
- display
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
- B62B3/00—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor
- B62B3/14—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
- B62B3/1408—Display devices mounted on it, e.g. advertisement displays
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
- B62B3/00—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor
- B62B3/14—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
- B62B3/1408—Display devices mounted on it, e.g. advertisement displays
- B62B3/142—Display devices mounted on it, e.g. advertisement displays mounted on the basket
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
- B62B3/00—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor
- B62B3/14—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
- B62B3/1408—Display devices mounted on it, e.g. advertisement displays
- B62B3/1424—Electronic display devices
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/14—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
- G06F3/147—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units using display panels
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
- G09G2380/00—Specific applications
- G09G2380/04—Electronic labels
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Finance (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- Economics (AREA)
- Marketing (AREA)
- Strategic Management (AREA)
- General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Development Economics (AREA)
- Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
- Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
- Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
- Television Systems (AREA)
- Stereo-Broadcasting Methods (AREA)
- Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
- Time Recorders, Dirve Recorders, Access Control (AREA)
- Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)
- Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
- Non-Silver Salt Photosensitive Materials And Non-Silver Salt Photography (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for supplying various departments of a large self-service store equipped with a number of shopping carts with department-specific information.
Each of the items of information specific to a department of predetermined length, is digitally stored in memory in decentralized fashion in a transmitter/receiver unit assigned to the particular department and then transmitted in a predetermined cycle in serial form over an infrared path.
By means of receiver/transmitter units mounted on all the shopping carts of the store, the transmitted information is received by the receiver/transmitter units of the shopping carts located in the particular department, stored in buffer memory there, and reproduced on a display of the receiver/
transmitter units.
Immediately after each playback of information specific to a particular department on the display of the receiver/transmitter mounted on the associated shopping cart, a signal confirming this visual playback of information is transmitted via the infrared path to the transmitter/receiver unit provided in that particular department and recorded there.
Each of the items of information specific to a department of predetermined length, is digitally stored in memory in decentralized fashion in a transmitter/receiver unit assigned to the particular department and then transmitted in a predetermined cycle in serial form over an infrared path.
By means of receiver/transmitter units mounted on all the shopping carts of the store, the transmitted information is received by the receiver/transmitter units of the shopping carts located in the particular department, stored in buffer memory there, and reproduced on a display of the receiver/
transmitter units.
Immediately after each playback of information specific to a particular department on the display of the receiver/transmitter mounted on the associated shopping cart, a signal confirming this visual playback of information is transmitted via the infrared path to the transmitter/receiver unit provided in that particular department and recorded there.
Description
203~982 METHOD FOR SUPPLYING VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF LARGE SELF-SERVICE STORES WITH DEPARTMENT-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
The Invention relates to a method for supplying various departments of a large self-service store, equipped with a number of shopping carts, with department-specific information.
In large self-service stores, customers are informed of particularly attractive offers, special sales, new products, and so forth in centrally controlled announcements over the loudspeaker. These loudspeaker 1C announcements are often repeated ceaselessly, always in the same order, and so over the long run are not only annoying but in fact, by their constant repetition, create an increasing distaste on the part of the customers hearing them .
Meanwhile, some such stores also use transmitters in departments that are to be supplied with specific information for that particular department. From these transmitters, the information intended for the particular department is transmitted wirelessly to receivers that are installed on all the shopping carts in a such a store. The information received is then acoustically reproduced over loudspeakers and/or shown on relatively large screens, which are likewise provided on the shopping carts and are connected to the receivers on the shopping carts.
However, to customers stopping in the various departments, information announced over the shopping cart loudspeaker in these departments is just as annoying as the central loudspeaker announcements.
When screens are attached to the pushbars of the shopping carts, their size is a nuisance, on the one hand; on the other, the equipment for triggering the screen and supplying it with the requisite energy requires considerable space, so thus still further restricting the already relatively limited space inthe shopping cart.
Previously, the date absolutely required to prepare a so-called customer route study have been collected with the aid of a more or less large number of persons for an appropriate period of time, either by observing individual customers or by polling them, making it possible to learn for instance what route the individual customer takes through the self-service store; whether he will frequent, or has frequented, certain so-called service shops; how long he stayed in the various departments; and so forth.
The facts gained by observation or polling are then recorded on prepared questionnaires or in table form or dictated onto tape, for example.
The preparation alone, not to speak of later carrying out such studies in the form of observations, polling and the like, is not only extremely time-consuming and thus labor-intensive, but in such polls of customers, one must also depend very heavily on the good will and cooperation of the individual customer and on his readiness to answer the questions asked with the necessary accuracy and detail. Despite the heavy expenditure of time and labor needed, the facts and results obtained in this way still have a variable amount of intrinsic uncertainty; the customer route study to be prepared, or prepared later, therefore necessarily often produces incorrect results that do not fully correspond to actual facts.
It is therefore the object of the invention to create means for supplying various departments of a large self-service store equipped with a number of shopping carts with department-specific information, in which quite carefully aimed information that can be quickly changed, is made individually accessible to each customer of the store in the various departments, and in which information, every time it is effectively output, may optionally be store in memory.
In addition to the display of department-specific ~
.~,~
203~982 information, the route taken by each of the shopping carts used by customers-of such a store and optionally the period of time each of these cards remains in individual departments should also be reliably ascertA i neA and recorded.
The invention provides means for supplying various departments of a large self-service store equipped with a number of shopping carts with department specific information. Infrared transmitter/receivers having memory are located in different departments of the store.
Separably transportable h~n~eld unit means are provided for transmitting information specific to each of the different departments to the memory for loading by a first infrared path. A computer is connected to the separably transportable hAn~hald unit means for creating the information specific to each of the different departments for input into the separably transportable h~n~eld unit means and transmission to the memory. Transmitter/
receivers have a second infrared path which outputs the information specific to each of the departments in a predetermined cycle. Infrared receiver/transmitters having displays are also mounted on the shopping carts and are located on a front upper edge of baskets of the shopping carts, opposite and below pushbars, in a field of view of costumers, for receiving the department-specific information over the second infrared path and visually playing it back.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, all the information specific to a department can be stored in a memory, for example in a memory diskette, in a transmitter/receiver unit that is associated with the particular department and hence is decentralized. The information stored in decentralized fashion is then output serially over an infrared path in the region of the particular department at a specific predetermined cycle, for example with a transmission rate of 125 kilobits per second.
._ The information transmitted to the region of the particular department i8 then received by receiver/
transmitter unit~ on the shopping carts located there, stored bitwise in a buffer memory provided in each receiver/transmitter and then made vi~ible to the customer by playback on a preferably four-line display in each of the receiver/transmitters located in this department. The receiver/transmitters with di~play are preferably mounted in the field of view of the cu~tomer, on the top front edge of the basket of the shopping cart. Here the department-specific information / / /
,, .
_ . , .
203291~3~
is generally shown only once on the display of the receiver/transmitter mounted on the shopping cart during the time a customer spends in that department .
It is also assured in thc mcthod of the invention, by suitable monitoring and by the transmission mode used, that the information offered will always be received in such a way that it is played back on the dislplay only once, from the beginning, without any omissions or truncations. For instance, the information received is canceled from the memory of the receiver/transmitter after a certain period of time, or it may remain stored in the memory of the receiver/transmitter for possible repetition until such time as the customer pushes the shopping cart into some other department.
Preferably at about the same time as or immediately after each visual playback of information on a display, a preferably encoded signal indicating this output of information can be transmitted by infrared rays to the department transmitter/receiver, recorded there and stored in such a way that it can be called up again. In other words, in the method of the invention, each time information is played back in full on a display, the signaltransmitted by infrared light provides confirmation and thus a return acknowledgement that the information specific to this department was not only received by the receiver/transmitter mounted on each shopping cart but was also visibly displayed thereon.
The number of confirmation signals received in each department is recorded in decentralized fashion and stored - provided with a department-specific code - in such a way that it can be called up. From the confirmation signals, which can be called up by means of a handheld unit, a kind of log is thus created, from which it can for instance be learned how often continuously output information has in fact been passed on to -customers over the displays on the shopping carts.
Furthermore, the receiver/transmitters provided on the shopping carts are provided with a code number, which is either automatically broadcast or sampled by activation of all the transmitter/receivers that are installed in sampling locations of the store of interest in terms of a customer route. The time and date of reception can be assigned to all the information broadcast by the receiver/transmitters, including the code number, or all the information received in the receiver/transmitters. Especially from the assignment of the time of reception to the code number of a receiver/transmitter, a conclusion can for instance be drawn as to how long a customer remains in certain departments, or under some circumstances how long the customer looks at specific articles or groups of articles.
Finally, a location identification code can also be allocated to the transmitter/receivers disposed in decentralized fashion, and this code is likewise broadcast over the infrared path to each of the receiver/transmitters that reach the region of the infrared path of such a transmitter/receiver. In that case, the receiver/transmitters mounted on the shopping carts are then also each equipped with a memory to store location identification codes. In that case, appropriate sampling or scanning devices need to be provided only at the exit, for instance, or preferably in the region of the cash registers; by means of these devices, the data temporarily stored in the receiver/transmitters of the shopping cart are sampled and transferred to the transmitter/receivers. All these extracted data can then be passed on, for instance directly to a central memory, or collected in a local memory and from it sent at regular intervals for evaluation and further processing. Once the data have been extracted from the memory of the receiver/transmitter mounted on the shopping carts, this memory is erased again, making 203Z9F~2 it immediately ready for use once again and capable of again storing data.
The invention will now be described in further detail in terms of a preferred embodiment, referring to the accompanying drawings. Shown are:
Fig. 1, schematically, a transmitter/receiver unit provided in a department, and a receiver/transmitter unit with display provided on a shopping cart;
Fig. 2a, a schematic view of a receiver/transmitter with display in a front view;
Fig. 2b, a sectional view through the receiver/transmitter of Fig. 2a;
Fig. 3, schematically, a handheld unit communicating with a transmitter/receiver; and Fig. 4, schematically, a computer and printer arrangement connected to a handheld unit.
First, the principles of an information system operating by the method of the invention, with which a self-service market is for instance made capable of informing its customers at the so-called P.O.P. (point of purchase) will be described. To this end, information from transmitter/receiver units 51~5n~ installed at a height of from 2.5 to 4 m, each of them provided in n departments 2 of the self-service market, is transmitted along with signals for system control by infrared rays 6. This information is received by receiver/transmitter units 81-8m mounted on shopping charts 71~7m and displayed by means of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) 91-9m Of the receiver/transmitters 81-8m. Each receiver/transmitter 8 with LCD 9 is mounted for this purpose within the field of view of a customer, on the top front edge of a basket 7c of each shopping cart 7. There are from one to four lines, each for 40 alphanumeric characters per line, available in each LCD 9, with one line displayed after another. The manager of 203Z9~2 -the self-service market can decide whether and in what order the lines should be repeated, whether a line should appear immediately or be developed slowly, whether a line should flash, and/or whether an acoustical signal should be generated before the information is displayed, or before s each of the lines, or before individual lines.
A filing system can also be developed in the transmitter/receivers 51-5n mounted in the n departments 2, storing how often the information transmitted has in fact been shown on a display 9. To this end, the satisfactory reception and in particular the satisfactory playback of the information on the display 9 is signaled to the applicable transmitter/receivers 51~5n by the receiver/transmitters 8 mounted on the shopping carts 7, over an infrared path 6'.
The time can also be recorded in the filing system every hour on the hour; the filing system will also be hereinafter called the billing file, because with its aid an advertiser can be billed, for instance in leasing to an advertiser. The self-service store manager can for instance negotiate billing to the advertiser selectively, on the basis of either the leased time or how many displays are actually shown on the display equipment 9.
With the aid of the information system according to the invention, a so-called electronic customer route study can be made. To this end, the receiver/transmitters 8~-8m mounted on the shopping carts 71~7m~ with the associated displays 91~9m~ are numbered continuously, electronically. The number of each receiver/transmitter 8,-8m can be called up by the transmitter/receivers 51~5n mounted in the n departments 2 and then is stored in them along with the time and date, again in a filing system hereinafter also called the acknowledgement file. By suitable installation of the transmitter/receivers 51~5n in the n departments 2, it can thus be ascertained when a given shopping 20329~2 cart 71~7m visited a given department.
The information system according to the invention comprises four basic components, namely a computer in the form of a laptop 1, one or more handheld units 3, a number n of transmitter/receiver units 51-5n to be s mounted in the various departments, and a number m of receiver/transmitters 8,-8m with LCD displays 91~9m provided in them, to be installed on shopping carts 71~7m. The functions of the four basic components of the information system will now be described in detail.
As can be seen from the schematic illustration in Fig. 4, the laptop 1 has a screen 1a, represented by a rectangle, and a merely schematically shown control panel 1b. The laptop, which is an MS DOS-type computer, for instance, comprises a 512kb main memory, a 20 megabyte hard disk, and a 3.5 megabyte drive for 720 kb diskettes, again as an example. A
printer 1d is connected via a cable 1c to the laptop 1. The laptop 1 can be connected to the handheld unit 3 over a further cable 1e.
With the aid of the software installed on the hard disk of the laptop 1, a user, for instance the manager of a self-service store, a hypermarket and the like can put the information intended for receiver/transmitters 81-8m having the associated displays 91~9m into the desired form and with the desired format. After formatting of the various information, it can also be decided whether data for billing, on the basis of the information actually displayed, and/or additional data for analysis should be collected in the transmitter/receivers 51-5n installed in the n departments 2.
With the aid of a transmission command, the various information, and formatting and operating instructions can be transmitted to the handheld unit 3 over the cable 1e. From the handheld unit 3, the applicable information and the corresponding instructions can be stored directly in one of the 20329~2 transmitter/receivers 51~5n intended for this purpose in the n departments, or in file cards 3b.
The handheld unit 3 with battery backup serves to exchange data between the laptop 1 and the various transmitter/receivers 51~5n~ sO that expensive hard wiring between a central station and the individual transmitter/receiver units 51~5n is avoided. As shown in Figs, 3 and 4, a display 3a, corresponding to the displays 9 of the receiver/transmitters 8, is provided in the handheld unit 3. As indicated by a dot-dash arrow in Fig. 4, a file card 3b can be selectively associated with the handheld unit 3.
As already mentioned, from the laptop 1, the formatted data are transmitted over the cable le to the handheld unit 3. For monitoring purposes, the information can be shown on the display 3a of the handheld unit 3 immediately after inputting. The information can also be inscribed in a data card 3b, for data protection.
As schematically shown in Fig. 3, from the handheld unit 3, the information along with the formatting instructions is transmitted by means of infrared rays 6' indicated by a dot-dash arrow, to the transmitter/receiver unit 5 installed in the applicable department 2. For instance, a LED (not shown) provided on the handheld unit 3 may indicate successful transmission by lighting up in green, and by lighting up in red, an LED can indicate defective transmission. In the latter case, the transmission should naturally be repeated. As indicated by a dot-dash arrow 6", the information that has just been fed into the transmitter/receiver 5 can likewise be called up again from it by infrared for monitoring purposes.
The aforementioned billing file can also be called with the handheld unit 3 from all the transmitter/receivers 51~5n at any time. In this case again,if an LED provided on the handheld unit 3 lights up in green, this indicates satisfactory transmission.
20329~2 After a successful transmission, the data file in the applicable transmitter/receiver 51~5n is suitably erased, so that it is then available onlyin the handheld unit 3. For reasons of security, the data file should therefore be stored immediately in a data card 3b.
If the handheld unit 3 is to be used to prepare for an analysis, then the transmitter/receivers 51~5n are numbered with sequential location identification numbers, with the aid of the handheld unit 3, so that later, to prepare the analysis, the location identification numbers of the various transmitter/receivers 51~5n can be read out again. Sequential numbering of all the transmitter/receivers 51~5n is absolutely necessary in order that the data files stored in the various transmitter/receivers 51~5n can be assigned perfectly to a specific point, that is, to a very specific department 2, in the store layout of a self-service store, supermarket, hypermarket or the like.
The handheld unit 3 can also be used to adjust a clock provided in the transmitter/receivers 51~5n at any time, via the infrared path 6', so that the handheld unit 3 is also assigned the function of a master clock. Both to prepare an analysis and merely for functional monitoring, the acknowledgement data file prepared in the various transmitter/receivers 51-5n can be called up at any time by these transmitter/receivers 51~5n~ output to the handheld unit 3 via the infrared path 6", and suitably automatically inscribed at the same time into a data card 3b.
The various transmitter/receivers 51-5n serve on the one hand to transmit information to the receiver/transmitters 8,-8m, with the displays 91-9m provided in them, mounted on the shopping carts 71~7m~ and on the other hand for developing the aforementioned billing and acknowledgement data files. The various transmitter/receivers 51~5n are installed in the n 20329~
-departments 2 for which they are specifically intended, for instance being hung at a height of 2.5 to 4 m. Either a mains power unit (not shown) or a charge unit (likewise not shown) is assigned to the transmitter/receivers 51-5n. In normal use, the transmitter/receivers 51~5n have a least approximately four weeks of battery backup.
By means of the handheld unit 3, the information to be transmitted to the particular department 2 is stored in the transmitter/receiver 5 provided there. Once this has been done, the transmitter/receiver 5 automatically begins to transmit both its number, in the form of the location identification number, and the operating and formatting instructions. As soon as the reception of the number and the other instructions has been acknowledged by a receiver/transmitter unit 8 mounted on a shopping cart 7, then the special information intended for the particular department is transmitted.
Satisfactory reception is then confirmed by the applicable receiver/transmitter 8 or by means of the handheld unit 3. As already mentioned, if necessary, a billing data file can be developed with these confirmations, and can then be called up at any time using the handheld unit 3. The number of the applicable transmitter/receiver 51~5n~ in the form of its location identification number, and the information broadcast to it are then transmitted jointly, automatically, so as to preclude mistakes. (Once satisfactory reception has been signaled by the handheld unit 3, the data file that has just been called up is canceled in the applicable transmitter/receiver unit 51~5n-) In order to enable sending the same information even to departments that cover a large area, ten transmitter/receivers 5 can for instance be wired together, with any arbitrary transmitter/receiver unit 5 forming the starting point. The rest of the transmitter/receivers 5 are then connected in series via 203Z9~2 synchronizing cables to the transmitter/receiver 5 acting as the starting point.
Each of the transmitter/receivers 51 ~ 5n can be used for pure analysis, or for analysis combined with information transmission. To do so, however, a memory expansion must be made for each transmitter/receiver 5~ sO that the location identification number and the various operating and formatting instructions can be programmed in along with the information, by means of the handheld unit 3. As soon as the transmission from the handheld unit 3 to the applicable transmitter/receiver 5 has been effected, the transmitter/receivers transmit both its number, in the form of the location identification number, and the operating and formatting instruction. As soon as these data have been acknowledged, with the code number of the unit, by a receiver/transmitter unit 8 mounted on a shopping cart 7, the code number of the acknowledging receiver/transmitter 8 is stored in memory along with the time in the acknowledgement data file referred to initially.
Since information is generally stored in the applicable transmitter/receiver 5, it is then transmitted to this receiver/transmitter 8 over the infrared path 6 (Fig. 1). (However, if the acknowledgement is effected from a handheld unit 3, then nothing is stored in the acknowledgement data file of the transmitter/receiver 5; instead, only the information is transmitted. In that case, an indication is then made on the handheld unit 3 that the transmitter/receiver 5 has been set to the analysis mode.) The acknowledgement data files stored in memory in the transmitter/receivers 51~5n can be read out by means of the handheld unit 3, and are then automatically immediately recorded on a data card 3b. If there is a computer-controlled linkage of all the acknowledgement data files, a customer route study can then be made.
203291~Z
The display 9 provided in each receiver/transmitter 8 serves to display the information transmitted by a transmitter/receiver 5. The receiver/transmitters 8 also acknowledge satisfactory reception of the operating and formatting instructions of the trarismitted information, along with the code number of a particular unit, which was either assigned to it at the factory or input by means of the handheld unit 3.
As can be seen from Figs. 2a and 2b, each receiver/transmitter 8 is mounted inside a basket 7c of a shopping cart 7 (Fig. 1), on the top front edge of the basket precisely opposite the pushbar 7a of each shopping cart 7, with the aid of a special tool (not shown) by means of a hook-like L-shaped attachment 8c embodied on the back of its housing 8a, and is aimed in such a way that the front 8b of the housing containing the display 9 in the form of an LCD module is oriented toward the field of view of a customer pushing the shopping cart 7, as indicated in Fig. 1 by an arrow 10.
Each receiver/transmitter 8 also has a printed wiring board 8d, suggested in a sectional view, and an electronics module 8e. Each of the receiver/transmitters 8 mounted on shopping carts 7 draws energy from batteries, not shown further here, which are recharged by the ambient light with the aid of solar cells, likewise not shown. As a result, every receiver / transmitter unit 8 mounted on a shopping cart 7 and having a display 9 is immediately ready for use.
As soon as a receiver/transmitter 8 enters the region of a transmitter / receiver unit 5, the receiver/transmitter 8 acknowledges the satisfactory reception of the operating and formatting instruction by broadcasting its number. Typically, the transmitter/receiver 5 will then broadcast the information stored in it, which is transmitted by infrared rays 6 to the receiver/transmitter 8 located in its vicinity and stored in that unit.
.
This means that the customer does not need to remain below a transmitter/receiver 5 in order to receive the complete information. The receiver/transmitter 8 checks for defective transmission of the information and confirms it. Not until satisfactory reception of the information has been 5 confirmed by the receiver/transmitter 8 the information, transmitted over the infrared path 6, is shown on its display 9 in accordance with the formatting instructions.
To this end, in the receiver/transmitter 8, the information is shifted into a shift register, for instance with a clock frequency of 16 kHz. After 10 every eight (8) bits of information shifted in, a clock pulse is generated, and as a result this byte of information, now present in parallel form in the ASCII
format is shifted into the display 9. This course of events now takes place another 79 times in succession, for example, so that in this case 80 alphanumeric characters are displayed, for instance in two lines. The output formatting is generated by the electronics of the receiver/transmitter 8.
The Invention relates to a method for supplying various departments of a large self-service store, equipped with a number of shopping carts, with department-specific information.
In large self-service stores, customers are informed of particularly attractive offers, special sales, new products, and so forth in centrally controlled announcements over the loudspeaker. These loudspeaker 1C announcements are often repeated ceaselessly, always in the same order, and so over the long run are not only annoying but in fact, by their constant repetition, create an increasing distaste on the part of the customers hearing them .
Meanwhile, some such stores also use transmitters in departments that are to be supplied with specific information for that particular department. From these transmitters, the information intended for the particular department is transmitted wirelessly to receivers that are installed on all the shopping carts in a such a store. The information received is then acoustically reproduced over loudspeakers and/or shown on relatively large screens, which are likewise provided on the shopping carts and are connected to the receivers on the shopping carts.
However, to customers stopping in the various departments, information announced over the shopping cart loudspeaker in these departments is just as annoying as the central loudspeaker announcements.
When screens are attached to the pushbars of the shopping carts, their size is a nuisance, on the one hand; on the other, the equipment for triggering the screen and supplying it with the requisite energy requires considerable space, so thus still further restricting the already relatively limited space inthe shopping cart.
Previously, the date absolutely required to prepare a so-called customer route study have been collected with the aid of a more or less large number of persons for an appropriate period of time, either by observing individual customers or by polling them, making it possible to learn for instance what route the individual customer takes through the self-service store; whether he will frequent, or has frequented, certain so-called service shops; how long he stayed in the various departments; and so forth.
The facts gained by observation or polling are then recorded on prepared questionnaires or in table form or dictated onto tape, for example.
The preparation alone, not to speak of later carrying out such studies in the form of observations, polling and the like, is not only extremely time-consuming and thus labor-intensive, but in such polls of customers, one must also depend very heavily on the good will and cooperation of the individual customer and on his readiness to answer the questions asked with the necessary accuracy and detail. Despite the heavy expenditure of time and labor needed, the facts and results obtained in this way still have a variable amount of intrinsic uncertainty; the customer route study to be prepared, or prepared later, therefore necessarily often produces incorrect results that do not fully correspond to actual facts.
It is therefore the object of the invention to create means for supplying various departments of a large self-service store equipped with a number of shopping carts with department-specific information, in which quite carefully aimed information that can be quickly changed, is made individually accessible to each customer of the store in the various departments, and in which information, every time it is effectively output, may optionally be store in memory.
In addition to the display of department-specific ~
.~,~
203~982 information, the route taken by each of the shopping carts used by customers-of such a store and optionally the period of time each of these cards remains in individual departments should also be reliably ascertA i neA and recorded.
The invention provides means for supplying various departments of a large self-service store equipped with a number of shopping carts with department specific information. Infrared transmitter/receivers having memory are located in different departments of the store.
Separably transportable h~n~eld unit means are provided for transmitting information specific to each of the different departments to the memory for loading by a first infrared path. A computer is connected to the separably transportable hAn~hald unit means for creating the information specific to each of the different departments for input into the separably transportable h~n~eld unit means and transmission to the memory. Transmitter/
receivers have a second infrared path which outputs the information specific to each of the departments in a predetermined cycle. Infrared receiver/transmitters having displays are also mounted on the shopping carts and are located on a front upper edge of baskets of the shopping carts, opposite and below pushbars, in a field of view of costumers, for receiving the department-specific information over the second infrared path and visually playing it back.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, all the information specific to a department can be stored in a memory, for example in a memory diskette, in a transmitter/receiver unit that is associated with the particular department and hence is decentralized. The information stored in decentralized fashion is then output serially over an infrared path in the region of the particular department at a specific predetermined cycle, for example with a transmission rate of 125 kilobits per second.
._ The information transmitted to the region of the particular department i8 then received by receiver/
transmitter unit~ on the shopping carts located there, stored bitwise in a buffer memory provided in each receiver/transmitter and then made vi~ible to the customer by playback on a preferably four-line display in each of the receiver/transmitters located in this department. The receiver/transmitters with di~play are preferably mounted in the field of view of the cu~tomer, on the top front edge of the basket of the shopping cart. Here the department-specific information / / /
,, .
_ . , .
203291~3~
is generally shown only once on the display of the receiver/transmitter mounted on the shopping cart during the time a customer spends in that department .
It is also assured in thc mcthod of the invention, by suitable monitoring and by the transmission mode used, that the information offered will always be received in such a way that it is played back on the dislplay only once, from the beginning, without any omissions or truncations. For instance, the information received is canceled from the memory of the receiver/transmitter after a certain period of time, or it may remain stored in the memory of the receiver/transmitter for possible repetition until such time as the customer pushes the shopping cart into some other department.
Preferably at about the same time as or immediately after each visual playback of information on a display, a preferably encoded signal indicating this output of information can be transmitted by infrared rays to the department transmitter/receiver, recorded there and stored in such a way that it can be called up again. In other words, in the method of the invention, each time information is played back in full on a display, the signaltransmitted by infrared light provides confirmation and thus a return acknowledgement that the information specific to this department was not only received by the receiver/transmitter mounted on each shopping cart but was also visibly displayed thereon.
The number of confirmation signals received in each department is recorded in decentralized fashion and stored - provided with a department-specific code - in such a way that it can be called up. From the confirmation signals, which can be called up by means of a handheld unit, a kind of log is thus created, from which it can for instance be learned how often continuously output information has in fact been passed on to -customers over the displays on the shopping carts.
Furthermore, the receiver/transmitters provided on the shopping carts are provided with a code number, which is either automatically broadcast or sampled by activation of all the transmitter/receivers that are installed in sampling locations of the store of interest in terms of a customer route. The time and date of reception can be assigned to all the information broadcast by the receiver/transmitters, including the code number, or all the information received in the receiver/transmitters. Especially from the assignment of the time of reception to the code number of a receiver/transmitter, a conclusion can for instance be drawn as to how long a customer remains in certain departments, or under some circumstances how long the customer looks at specific articles or groups of articles.
Finally, a location identification code can also be allocated to the transmitter/receivers disposed in decentralized fashion, and this code is likewise broadcast over the infrared path to each of the receiver/transmitters that reach the region of the infrared path of such a transmitter/receiver. In that case, the receiver/transmitters mounted on the shopping carts are then also each equipped with a memory to store location identification codes. In that case, appropriate sampling or scanning devices need to be provided only at the exit, for instance, or preferably in the region of the cash registers; by means of these devices, the data temporarily stored in the receiver/transmitters of the shopping cart are sampled and transferred to the transmitter/receivers. All these extracted data can then be passed on, for instance directly to a central memory, or collected in a local memory and from it sent at regular intervals for evaluation and further processing. Once the data have been extracted from the memory of the receiver/transmitter mounted on the shopping carts, this memory is erased again, making 203Z9F~2 it immediately ready for use once again and capable of again storing data.
The invention will now be described in further detail in terms of a preferred embodiment, referring to the accompanying drawings. Shown are:
Fig. 1, schematically, a transmitter/receiver unit provided in a department, and a receiver/transmitter unit with display provided on a shopping cart;
Fig. 2a, a schematic view of a receiver/transmitter with display in a front view;
Fig. 2b, a sectional view through the receiver/transmitter of Fig. 2a;
Fig. 3, schematically, a handheld unit communicating with a transmitter/receiver; and Fig. 4, schematically, a computer and printer arrangement connected to a handheld unit.
First, the principles of an information system operating by the method of the invention, with which a self-service market is for instance made capable of informing its customers at the so-called P.O.P. (point of purchase) will be described. To this end, information from transmitter/receiver units 51~5n~ installed at a height of from 2.5 to 4 m, each of them provided in n departments 2 of the self-service market, is transmitted along with signals for system control by infrared rays 6. This information is received by receiver/transmitter units 81-8m mounted on shopping charts 71~7m and displayed by means of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) 91-9m Of the receiver/transmitters 81-8m. Each receiver/transmitter 8 with LCD 9 is mounted for this purpose within the field of view of a customer, on the top front edge of a basket 7c of each shopping cart 7. There are from one to four lines, each for 40 alphanumeric characters per line, available in each LCD 9, with one line displayed after another. The manager of 203Z9~2 -the self-service market can decide whether and in what order the lines should be repeated, whether a line should appear immediately or be developed slowly, whether a line should flash, and/or whether an acoustical signal should be generated before the information is displayed, or before s each of the lines, or before individual lines.
A filing system can also be developed in the transmitter/receivers 51-5n mounted in the n departments 2, storing how often the information transmitted has in fact been shown on a display 9. To this end, the satisfactory reception and in particular the satisfactory playback of the information on the display 9 is signaled to the applicable transmitter/receivers 51~5n by the receiver/transmitters 8 mounted on the shopping carts 7, over an infrared path 6'.
The time can also be recorded in the filing system every hour on the hour; the filing system will also be hereinafter called the billing file, because with its aid an advertiser can be billed, for instance in leasing to an advertiser. The self-service store manager can for instance negotiate billing to the advertiser selectively, on the basis of either the leased time or how many displays are actually shown on the display equipment 9.
With the aid of the information system according to the invention, a so-called electronic customer route study can be made. To this end, the receiver/transmitters 8~-8m mounted on the shopping carts 71~7m~ with the associated displays 91~9m~ are numbered continuously, electronically. The number of each receiver/transmitter 8,-8m can be called up by the transmitter/receivers 51~5n mounted in the n departments 2 and then is stored in them along with the time and date, again in a filing system hereinafter also called the acknowledgement file. By suitable installation of the transmitter/receivers 51~5n in the n departments 2, it can thus be ascertained when a given shopping 20329~2 cart 71~7m visited a given department.
The information system according to the invention comprises four basic components, namely a computer in the form of a laptop 1, one or more handheld units 3, a number n of transmitter/receiver units 51-5n to be s mounted in the various departments, and a number m of receiver/transmitters 8,-8m with LCD displays 91~9m provided in them, to be installed on shopping carts 71~7m. The functions of the four basic components of the information system will now be described in detail.
As can be seen from the schematic illustration in Fig. 4, the laptop 1 has a screen 1a, represented by a rectangle, and a merely schematically shown control panel 1b. The laptop, which is an MS DOS-type computer, for instance, comprises a 512kb main memory, a 20 megabyte hard disk, and a 3.5 megabyte drive for 720 kb diskettes, again as an example. A
printer 1d is connected via a cable 1c to the laptop 1. The laptop 1 can be connected to the handheld unit 3 over a further cable 1e.
With the aid of the software installed on the hard disk of the laptop 1, a user, for instance the manager of a self-service store, a hypermarket and the like can put the information intended for receiver/transmitters 81-8m having the associated displays 91~9m into the desired form and with the desired format. After formatting of the various information, it can also be decided whether data for billing, on the basis of the information actually displayed, and/or additional data for analysis should be collected in the transmitter/receivers 51-5n installed in the n departments 2.
With the aid of a transmission command, the various information, and formatting and operating instructions can be transmitted to the handheld unit 3 over the cable 1e. From the handheld unit 3, the applicable information and the corresponding instructions can be stored directly in one of the 20329~2 transmitter/receivers 51~5n intended for this purpose in the n departments, or in file cards 3b.
The handheld unit 3 with battery backup serves to exchange data between the laptop 1 and the various transmitter/receivers 51~5n~ sO that expensive hard wiring between a central station and the individual transmitter/receiver units 51~5n is avoided. As shown in Figs, 3 and 4, a display 3a, corresponding to the displays 9 of the receiver/transmitters 8, is provided in the handheld unit 3. As indicated by a dot-dash arrow in Fig. 4, a file card 3b can be selectively associated with the handheld unit 3.
As already mentioned, from the laptop 1, the formatted data are transmitted over the cable le to the handheld unit 3. For monitoring purposes, the information can be shown on the display 3a of the handheld unit 3 immediately after inputting. The information can also be inscribed in a data card 3b, for data protection.
As schematically shown in Fig. 3, from the handheld unit 3, the information along with the formatting instructions is transmitted by means of infrared rays 6' indicated by a dot-dash arrow, to the transmitter/receiver unit 5 installed in the applicable department 2. For instance, a LED (not shown) provided on the handheld unit 3 may indicate successful transmission by lighting up in green, and by lighting up in red, an LED can indicate defective transmission. In the latter case, the transmission should naturally be repeated. As indicated by a dot-dash arrow 6", the information that has just been fed into the transmitter/receiver 5 can likewise be called up again from it by infrared for monitoring purposes.
The aforementioned billing file can also be called with the handheld unit 3 from all the transmitter/receivers 51~5n at any time. In this case again,if an LED provided on the handheld unit 3 lights up in green, this indicates satisfactory transmission.
20329~2 After a successful transmission, the data file in the applicable transmitter/receiver 51~5n is suitably erased, so that it is then available onlyin the handheld unit 3. For reasons of security, the data file should therefore be stored immediately in a data card 3b.
If the handheld unit 3 is to be used to prepare for an analysis, then the transmitter/receivers 51~5n are numbered with sequential location identification numbers, with the aid of the handheld unit 3, so that later, to prepare the analysis, the location identification numbers of the various transmitter/receivers 51~5n can be read out again. Sequential numbering of all the transmitter/receivers 51~5n is absolutely necessary in order that the data files stored in the various transmitter/receivers 51~5n can be assigned perfectly to a specific point, that is, to a very specific department 2, in the store layout of a self-service store, supermarket, hypermarket or the like.
The handheld unit 3 can also be used to adjust a clock provided in the transmitter/receivers 51~5n at any time, via the infrared path 6', so that the handheld unit 3 is also assigned the function of a master clock. Both to prepare an analysis and merely for functional monitoring, the acknowledgement data file prepared in the various transmitter/receivers 51-5n can be called up at any time by these transmitter/receivers 51~5n~ output to the handheld unit 3 via the infrared path 6", and suitably automatically inscribed at the same time into a data card 3b.
The various transmitter/receivers 51-5n serve on the one hand to transmit information to the receiver/transmitters 8,-8m, with the displays 91-9m provided in them, mounted on the shopping carts 71~7m~ and on the other hand for developing the aforementioned billing and acknowledgement data files. The various transmitter/receivers 51~5n are installed in the n 20329~
-departments 2 for which they are specifically intended, for instance being hung at a height of 2.5 to 4 m. Either a mains power unit (not shown) or a charge unit (likewise not shown) is assigned to the transmitter/receivers 51-5n. In normal use, the transmitter/receivers 51~5n have a least approximately four weeks of battery backup.
By means of the handheld unit 3, the information to be transmitted to the particular department 2 is stored in the transmitter/receiver 5 provided there. Once this has been done, the transmitter/receiver 5 automatically begins to transmit both its number, in the form of the location identification number, and the operating and formatting instructions. As soon as the reception of the number and the other instructions has been acknowledged by a receiver/transmitter unit 8 mounted on a shopping cart 7, then the special information intended for the particular department is transmitted.
Satisfactory reception is then confirmed by the applicable receiver/transmitter 8 or by means of the handheld unit 3. As already mentioned, if necessary, a billing data file can be developed with these confirmations, and can then be called up at any time using the handheld unit 3. The number of the applicable transmitter/receiver 51~5n~ in the form of its location identification number, and the information broadcast to it are then transmitted jointly, automatically, so as to preclude mistakes. (Once satisfactory reception has been signaled by the handheld unit 3, the data file that has just been called up is canceled in the applicable transmitter/receiver unit 51~5n-) In order to enable sending the same information even to departments that cover a large area, ten transmitter/receivers 5 can for instance be wired together, with any arbitrary transmitter/receiver unit 5 forming the starting point. The rest of the transmitter/receivers 5 are then connected in series via 203Z9~2 synchronizing cables to the transmitter/receiver 5 acting as the starting point.
Each of the transmitter/receivers 51 ~ 5n can be used for pure analysis, or for analysis combined with information transmission. To do so, however, a memory expansion must be made for each transmitter/receiver 5~ sO that the location identification number and the various operating and formatting instructions can be programmed in along with the information, by means of the handheld unit 3. As soon as the transmission from the handheld unit 3 to the applicable transmitter/receiver 5 has been effected, the transmitter/receivers transmit both its number, in the form of the location identification number, and the operating and formatting instruction. As soon as these data have been acknowledged, with the code number of the unit, by a receiver/transmitter unit 8 mounted on a shopping cart 7, the code number of the acknowledging receiver/transmitter 8 is stored in memory along with the time in the acknowledgement data file referred to initially.
Since information is generally stored in the applicable transmitter/receiver 5, it is then transmitted to this receiver/transmitter 8 over the infrared path 6 (Fig. 1). (However, if the acknowledgement is effected from a handheld unit 3, then nothing is stored in the acknowledgement data file of the transmitter/receiver 5; instead, only the information is transmitted. In that case, an indication is then made on the handheld unit 3 that the transmitter/receiver 5 has been set to the analysis mode.) The acknowledgement data files stored in memory in the transmitter/receivers 51~5n can be read out by means of the handheld unit 3, and are then automatically immediately recorded on a data card 3b. If there is a computer-controlled linkage of all the acknowledgement data files, a customer route study can then be made.
203291~Z
The display 9 provided in each receiver/transmitter 8 serves to display the information transmitted by a transmitter/receiver 5. The receiver/transmitters 8 also acknowledge satisfactory reception of the operating and formatting instructions of the trarismitted information, along with the code number of a particular unit, which was either assigned to it at the factory or input by means of the handheld unit 3.
As can be seen from Figs. 2a and 2b, each receiver/transmitter 8 is mounted inside a basket 7c of a shopping cart 7 (Fig. 1), on the top front edge of the basket precisely opposite the pushbar 7a of each shopping cart 7, with the aid of a special tool (not shown) by means of a hook-like L-shaped attachment 8c embodied on the back of its housing 8a, and is aimed in such a way that the front 8b of the housing containing the display 9 in the form of an LCD module is oriented toward the field of view of a customer pushing the shopping cart 7, as indicated in Fig. 1 by an arrow 10.
Each receiver/transmitter 8 also has a printed wiring board 8d, suggested in a sectional view, and an electronics module 8e. Each of the receiver/transmitters 8 mounted on shopping carts 7 draws energy from batteries, not shown further here, which are recharged by the ambient light with the aid of solar cells, likewise not shown. As a result, every receiver / transmitter unit 8 mounted on a shopping cart 7 and having a display 9 is immediately ready for use.
As soon as a receiver/transmitter 8 enters the region of a transmitter / receiver unit 5, the receiver/transmitter 8 acknowledges the satisfactory reception of the operating and formatting instruction by broadcasting its number. Typically, the transmitter/receiver 5 will then broadcast the information stored in it, which is transmitted by infrared rays 6 to the receiver/transmitter 8 located in its vicinity and stored in that unit.
.
This means that the customer does not need to remain below a transmitter/receiver 5 in order to receive the complete information. The receiver/transmitter 8 checks for defective transmission of the information and confirms it. Not until satisfactory reception of the information has been 5 confirmed by the receiver/transmitter 8 the information, transmitted over the infrared path 6, is shown on its display 9 in accordance with the formatting instructions.
To this end, in the receiver/transmitter 8, the information is shifted into a shift register, for instance with a clock frequency of 16 kHz. After 10 every eight (8) bits of information shifted in, a clock pulse is generated, and as a result this byte of information, now present in parallel form in the ASCII
format is shifted into the display 9. This course of events now takes place another 79 times in succession, for example, so that in this case 80 alphanumeric characters are displayed, for instance in two lines. The output formatting is generated by the electronics of the receiver/transmitter 8.
Claims (8)
1. Means for supplying various departments of a large self-service store equipped with a number of shopping carts with department specific information said means comprising;
infrared transmitter/receivers (5) with a memory, located in different departments (2) of a large self-service store, separably transportable handheld unit means (3) for transmitting information specific to each of said different departments to said memory for loading by a first infrared path (6), a computer connected to said separably transportable handheld unit means (3) for creating said information specific to said each of said different departments for input into said separably transportable handheld unit means (3) and transmission to said memory, said transmitter/receivers (5) having a second infrared path (6) which outputs said information specific to said each of said different departments in a predetermined cycle; and infrared receiver/transmitters (8) with a display (9), mounted on shopping carts (7) of the store on a front upper edge of baskets of said shopping carts (7), opposite and below pushbars (7a), in a field of view of customers, for receiving said department-specific information over said second infrared path (6) and visually playing it back.
infrared transmitter/receivers (5) with a memory, located in different departments (2) of a large self-service store, separably transportable handheld unit means (3) for transmitting information specific to each of said different departments to said memory for loading by a first infrared path (6), a computer connected to said separably transportable handheld unit means (3) for creating said information specific to said each of said different departments for input into said separably transportable handheld unit means (3) and transmission to said memory, said transmitter/receivers (5) having a second infrared path (6) which outputs said information specific to said each of said different departments in a predetermined cycle; and infrared receiver/transmitters (8) with a display (9), mounted on shopping carts (7) of the store on a front upper edge of baskets of said shopping carts (7), opposite and below pushbars (7a), in a field of view of customers, for receiving said department-specific information over said second infrared path (6) and visually playing it back.
2. The means according to claim 1, wherein said handheld unit means (3) is battery operated.
3. The means according to claim 1, wherein said infrared receiver/transmitters (8) have an acoustical signal that introduces a display of said department specific information.
4. The means according to claim 1, wherein said handheld unit means (3) has a display (3a) corresponding to the display (9) of the receiver/transmitters (8).
5. The means according to claim 1, wherein said infrared receiver/transmitter (8) has an infrared transmitter, which transmits a playback of information on its display (9) by a third infrared path (6') to the infrared transmitter/receiver unit (5) provided in said each of said different departments (2), for confirmation.
6. The means according to claim 1, wherein said display (9) of each said receiver/transmitter (8) is a four-line display for 40 alphanumeric characters per line.
7. The means according to claim 1, wherein said infrared receiver/transmitters (8) has an infrared transmitter for automatic transmission of a code number via said third infrared path (6') to said infrared transmitter/receivers (5) provided in each of said different departments (2).
8. The means according to claim 1, wherein said infrared transmitter/receivers (5) have an infrared transmitter for broadcasting a location identification code over said second infrared path (6) to each of said infrared receiver/transmitters (8) in the region of said infrared path (6), and each said infrared receiver/transmitters (8) has one memory for storing the location identification code of the infrared transmitter/receiver (5) provided in said each of said departments.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEP3942939.3 | 1989-12-23 | ||
| DE3942939A DE3942939A1 (en) | 1989-12-23 | 1989-12-23 | METHOD FOR SUPPLYING DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF A WHOLESALE MARKET WITH DEPARTMENT-SPECIFIC INFORMATION |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2032982C true CA2032982C (en) | 1994-11-15 |
Family
ID=6396426
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002032982A Expired - Fee Related CA2032982C (en) | 1989-12-23 | 1990-12-21 | Method for supplying various departments of shopping centers with department specific information |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0435225B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE150190T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU634327B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2032982C (en) |
| DE (2) | DE3942939A1 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI906264A (en) |
| IE (1) | IE904670A1 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO905427L (en) |
| PT (1) | PT96341A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA9010244B (en) |
Families Citing this family (16)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4973952A (en) * | 1987-09-21 | 1990-11-27 | Information Resources, Inc. | Shopping cart display system |
| DE4237729A1 (en) * | 1992-11-09 | 1994-05-11 | Expresso Deutschland | Administrative facility for push luggage trolleys |
| DE9307114U1 (en) * | 1993-05-11 | 1993-08-05 | Systec Ausbausysteme Gmbh, 82223 Eichenau, De | |
| AU668847B3 (en) * | 1995-11-09 | 1996-05-16 | Q Communications Pty Ltd | A method of triggering an audio and/or visual file |
| DE29517771U1 (en) * | 1995-11-09 | 1997-03-13 | Trautwein Gmbh & Co | Advertising and / or information system |
| WO1999014694A1 (en) * | 1997-09-17 | 1999-03-25 | Holger Lausch | Device for determining time dependent locations of shopping carts in a sales area |
| DE19800488A1 (en) * | 1997-09-17 | 1999-03-18 | Holger Dr Lausch | Supermarket trolley location monitoring device |
| DE59704888D1 (en) * | 1997-11-28 | 2001-11-15 | Scheidt & Bachmann Gmbh | Process for recording the spatial movements of shopping aids in a sales room |
| DE19821966A1 (en) * | 1998-05-17 | 1999-11-18 | Systec Ausbausysteme Gmbh | Distribution of information in a self service store |
| US6317718B1 (en) | 1999-02-26 | 2001-11-13 | Accenture Properties (2) B.V. | System, method and article of manufacture for location-based filtering for shopping agent in the physical world |
| US7003560B1 (en) | 1999-11-03 | 2006-02-21 | Accenture Llp | Data warehouse computing system |
| DE10017166A1 (en) * | 2000-04-10 | 2001-10-18 | Super Market Media Ag | Process for supplying customers of a self-service market with product-specific information |
| DE10019941B4 (en) | 2000-04-20 | 2012-12-06 | Systec Pos-Technology Gmbh | Method and system for detecting and rewarding the return of shopping carts |
| US20020121547A1 (en) * | 2000-04-20 | 2002-09-05 | Franz Wieth | Method and system from detecting and rewarding for the use of a shopping cart in a hypermarket |
| DE10019942B4 (en) * | 2000-04-20 | 2014-11-27 | Systec Pos-Technology Gmbh | Method and system for detecting and rewarding the return of shopping carts |
| RU2169949C1 (en) * | 2000-04-28 | 2001-06-27 | Королев Максим Борисович | Method for advertising consumer goods |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4325146A (en) * | 1979-12-20 | 1982-04-13 | Lennington John W | Non-synchronous object identification system |
| DE8320538U1 (en) * | 1983-07-16 | 1983-11-17 | Bloch, Claus, 7538 Keltern | SHOPPING VENTURE |
| DE3428104A1 (en) * | 1984-07-30 | 1986-02-06 | Heinz Georg Hünibach Thun Baus | PRODUCT INFORMATION AND DISPLAY SYSTEM |
| DE3436390A1 (en) * | 1984-10-04 | 1986-04-10 | Heinz Georg Baus | PRODUCTION INFORMATION AND DISPLAY SYSTEM |
| FR2596902B1 (en) * | 1986-04-03 | 1988-12-16 | Chetochine Georges | COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH REMOTE CONTROL, FOR EXAMPLE FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION TO THE CUSTOMER OF A LARGE AREA STORE |
| US4766295A (en) * | 1987-03-02 | 1988-08-23 | H.E. Butt Grocery Company | Electronic pricing display system |
-
1989
- 1989-12-23 DE DE3942939A patent/DE3942939A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1990
- 1990-12-17 NO NO90905427A patent/NO905427L/en unknown
- 1990-12-19 FI FI906264A patent/FI906264A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1990-12-19 ZA ZA9010244A patent/ZA9010244B/en unknown
- 1990-12-21 AU AU68461/90A patent/AU634327B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1990-12-21 AT AT90125280T patent/ATE150190T1/en active
- 1990-12-21 CA CA002032982A patent/CA2032982C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-12-21 PT PT96341A patent/PT96341A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1990-12-21 DE DE59010672T patent/DE59010672D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-12-21 EP EP90125280A patent/EP0435225B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-12-21 IE IE467090A patent/IE904670A1/en unknown
Also Published As
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| PT96341A (en) | 1991-09-30 |
| NO905427D0 (en) | 1990-12-17 |
| DE3942939A1 (en) | 1991-06-27 |
| DE59010672D1 (en) | 1997-04-17 |
| ATE150190T1 (en) | 1997-03-15 |
| EP0435225A3 (en) | 1992-08-26 |
| IE904670A1 (en) | 1991-07-17 |
| EP0435225B1 (en) | 1997-03-12 |
| FI906264A0 (en) | 1990-12-19 |
| EP0435225A2 (en) | 1991-07-03 |
| AU6846190A (en) | 1991-08-01 |
| AU634327B2 (en) | 1993-02-18 |
| NO905427L (en) | 1991-06-24 |
| FI906264A (en) | 1991-06-24 |
| ZA9010244B (en) | 1992-11-25 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |