DE3723189A1 - DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRODUCTS AND GOODS, IN PARTICULAR FOR THE PURPOSES OF PRODUCT ADVERTISING AND SALES PROMOTION - Google Patents

Abstract

An expanded display unit for communication with a customer in a supermarket checkout facility is furnished with information from a system responsive to UPC signals provided by a scanner (12). Such systems discern selected products selected for purchase from UPC signals, such products being those in connection with which a promotional plan has been preestablished, either for such products or other products. The system can discern selected characteristics of customers, particularly deducing from products selected for purchase, other products which may be of interest to the customer. The system provides information implementing the promotional plan to the display unit, which may be customer- interactive for the dispensing of coupons or the like. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for handling Products or goods that are tactile or palpable, for this Wear codes identifying products or goods, especially for the purposes of product advertising and sales promotion in one Check-in table / cash desk.

In general, the invention relates to the field of Product and merchandise management and in particular on systems and Methods of product advertising and sales promotion in one Dispatch table / counter / cash desk.

The state of the art

Handling and billing systems, such as those currently in Super markets etc. are widespread, have a so-called "P.O. S." - unit (P.O. S. = Point of Sale), i.e. H. a sales ab billing unit with a display window to a customer about the identification of one by the handling staff finished article as well as the price of this article inform. The check-in staff is typically responsible the article about a universal product code (UPC) scanner. This UPC is then read and a digital one for the code characteristic signal is sent to a computer in which Storage identification and price data in one address correspondence with the code signal are stored.  

In such devices or systems from the UPC derived information provided by the computer in made different use in various ways. To the one can be the total price or Total pricing and the formation or manufacture of a complete receipt or a complete record of trade a customer's purchases.

Secondly, the information received for the camp inventory control used, the computer in accordance with each UPC reading the existing inventory is reduced.

Although such computer support the clearance significantly improved, the applicant takes the view that the currently known devices, systems and Operating modes, as explained in the foregoing, are far from being meet the requirements and needs of the market. in the individual communication with the customer is minimal, i. H. they is essentially based on a simple advertisement on the P.O..S. window and limited to the dispatch receipt. Quite frankly the efforts to date are obviously not based on one wanted activity regarding advertising and sales promotion directed.

The present invention has thus become its main task made an improved device of the initially defined Art to create an improved, computerized supported product handling and product advertising in supermarkets and the like facilities.

This task is based on a device of the beginning mentioned type, according to the invention by the combination of the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 solved.  

Advantageous, further refinements and designs the invention result from claims 2-7.

On the basis of the present invention, a device with an extended display unit for communication with a Customers created in place of the POs unit.

The display unit is made by a system that is based on the a scanner generates generated UPC signals with the ent speaking information. According to one embodiment Such a system finds out selected products based on the UPC signals of the products selected for purchase, whereby these products are those associated with an advertising plan has been set up beforehand, either for such Products or for other products. The system then delivers one Information to show the advertising plan on the advertisement unit, the customer-interactive z. B. for the issue of coupons or the like.

According to another embodiment, such a system takes place selected properties of a customer, in particular through Derivation from the products selected for purchase, and thus other products that may be of interest to the customer. The system then provides information regarding the other Products to the display unit, the customer-interactive z. B. for may be the issue of coupons or the like.

According to a preferred embodiment with regard to the first The device according to the invention has one embodiment Number of first circuit means, each of which for Storage of the UPC information according to a given different product serves. A number of first Kompara gates is provided, each of which is the exit of a whole  receives certain of the first circuit means and which collectively receive the output of the product scanner, where this exit with respect to the one selected for purchase and then UPC-scanned article is distinctive. Every comparator created based on the correspondence between the entered Input signals an output signal that in connection with the previously prepared advertising plan in the event of a customer purchase is of interest. The Kompara output signals gates are then used to create an advertising message from a derive suitable memory and the same to the display unit forward.

According to a preferred embodiment with regard to the second The device according to the invention has one embodiment Number of second circuit means, each of which for Storage of the UPC information according to a given different product serves. It is still a number of second comparators are provided, each of which is the output of a particular one of the second circuit means receives while all together the output from the product scanner received the one selected for purchase and then identifying items handled by check-in personnel is.

Each comparator provides an output signal based on the Correspondence between the input signals sent to him, each such output signal in conjunction with the selected advertising scheme or layout of the device for the event identifying or indicating a customer's buying interest. The Output signals from the comparators are then used to an advertising message or information from a suitable one Derive memory and then the same to the display unit forward.  

For a more detailed explanation of the invention, its further features and advantages, the following description of preferred serves Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in the same reference numerals, the same components throughout Designate parts. It shows

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a product handling device;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the units 32 a and 36 a according to FIG. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the units 32 b and 36 b of FIG. 2.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, a handling table 10 is provided, which in the usual way has a UPC scanning unit 12 , the output signals of which are passed via line 14 to a UPC data memory 16 . This data memory 16 is of a design which is widely used, namely in the form of a computer-implemented price query (look-up) table with product description and price information in correlation to the product UPC. In known handling systems, this information is supplied via lines 18 and 20 to a POS unit 22 . In Fig. 1, the line 20 and the POS unit 22 are shown as a phantom image, since these components are not required for the operation of the product handling device described here.

The line 18 leads the output of the UPC data memory 16 to a UPC data buffer 24 , which in turn passes on the line 28 the product description and the price to an optical display unit 26 used for the purpose of product advertising. Furthermore, the output of the UPC scanning unit 12 is conducted via lines 30 and 31 a to a UPC purchase categorizer 32 a , which can be preset in connection with the advertising scheme or plan to be carried out, in such a way that it carries out certain or contains various UPC signals stored.

In this UPC purchase categorizer 32 a , a comparison is made between the UPC of the current product, which the customer bought and then scanned by the handling staff, and the large number of UPCs contained in the memory of the categorizer 32 a . On the basis of a positive comparison determination, the categorizer 32 a activates a corresponding line of the lines 34 a coming from its output, which on the other hand lead to inputs at a memory 36 a for categorized messages.

This memory 36 a , the z. B. can be in the form of a magnetic disk memory, contains product advertising messages or information that are selected so that they are in an economic relationship to those products whose UPC's are contained in the UPC purchase categorizer 32 a . After the activation of the lines 34 a of the memory 36 provides passes via a line 38 to the serving for advertising purposes visual display unit 26 a, the advertising messages to an output line 38 a, the address these according to these messages darzubieten the customer visually.

This display unit 26 can be, for example, a video (picture tube) device, and a customer-interactive screen can also be present. A (not shown) coupon dispenser can be assigned to the display unit 26 and can be effective or operable depending on the customer-screen dialog mode.

The output of the UPC scanning unit 12 is further directed via lines 30 and 31 a to a UPC purchase / advertising plan monitor 32 b , which can be preset in connection with the advertising plan to be carried out, in such a way that certain or different UPC Signals are stored according to a second embodiment.

In this monitor 32 b there is a comparison between the UPC of the current product, which was bought by the customer and then scanned by the control personnel, and the large number of UPCs that are present in the memory of the monitor 32 b .

After a positive comparison determination, the monitor 32 b activates a corresponding line of its output lines 34 b , which are connected to corresponding inputs on a memory 36 b for advertising messages. This memory 36 b , which can for example also be in the form of a magnetic disk memory, contains product advertising messages which are selected from the point of view that they are in an economic relationship to those products whose UPC's are contained in the monitor 32 b .

After activation of the lines 34 b provides the memory 36 b, the advertising messages to an output line 38 b, which in turn passes this message over line 38 to the serving promotional display unit 26 for the visual display for the customer.

There is also a switching device S for producing selective connections of lines 30 and 38 to lines 31 a , 31 b , 38 a and 38 b , for which switching device S has four switches. The switches S 1 and S 2 are closed due to displacement of a control switch T - as can be seen - and enable the operation of the device shown in FIG. 1 in the first mode of operation explained above, in which the units 32 a and 36 a are in Operation are while the units 32 b and 36 b are out of operation.

A reverse positioning of the control switch T means that the units 32 b and 36 b are put into operation by the switches S 3 and S 4 , so that the second mode of operation of the device explained above is made possible.

For example, an advertising plan is used, with the aid of which the device shown in FIG. 1 is operated in the first operating mode, with the assumption being made that characteristics or properties of the customer can be derived from the purchases made. A customer who purchases dog food apparently owns an animal. A customer who buys yogurt is probably interested in health food. A customer who buys diet soda apparently pays attention to low-calorie products.

With regard to these three customers characterized in this way, a department store manager has the wish, for example, to identify associated products which have a certain likelihood of purchase with the three products already identified. The manager can e.g. For example, associate flea collars with dog food purchases, vitamins with yoghurt purchases and snacks with a few calories with diet soda purchases. A corresponding advertising plan can then be carried out in such a way that the dog food UPC, the yogurt UPC and the diet soda UPC are entered in the categorizer 32 a and that in the memory 36 a news or information on the promotion of flea collars, vitamins and snacks stored with few calories. These products can then be conveniently placed near the processing station on an advertising table in such a way that the customer can easily add these goods to his purchase.

With reference to FIG. 2, it will now be explained that the categorizer 32 a has comparators 40, 42, 44 and 46 , each of these comparators having a common one, from the UPC scanning unit 12 via line 31 a and lines 31 a 1, 31a 2, 31a 3 and 31 has, at the leading input forth. Buffers 48, 50, 52 and 54 are also provided and each individually assigned to the comparators, with inputs 56, 58, 60 and 62 relating to the UPCs " A, B, C and N " characterizing inputs to the corresponding comparators 40, 42, 44 and 46 are formed.

These comparators 40 - 46 are connected via associated lines 34 a 1, 34 a 2, 34 a 3 and 34 to individually with memory location addresses 64, 66, 68 and 70 in the memory 36 a for categorized messages. The output lines of the memory 36 a are jointly connected to the line 38 a in order, as can be seen in FIG. 1, to convert the stored messages into an advertisement on the screen.

In accordance with the advertising plan described in the foregoing, for example, the purchase of a single item was generally taken into account, e.g. B. buying a dog food with an individual UPC. It should be noted, however, that the advertising plan may require the display of the flea collar message due to the purchase of any of a large number of different dog food options. Therefore, a number of comparators can be connected together with each of the input lines leading to the memory 36 a according to FIG. 2, each of these comparators having an input with respect to a different dog food UPC.

According to a further exemplary advertising plan, in conjunction with which the device according to FIG. 1 can be used in the second operating mode, various advertising measures can be taken into account, such as, for. B .:

• - The display of a graphic message or information regarding a product currently selected for purchase;
• - the display of discount offers for the future purchase of the product currently selected for purchase;
• - the display of discount offers for the current of the future purchase of products other than those have currently been selected for purchase;
• - the display of offers of general discount coupons for Products, from offers related to a customer credit etc.

All of these advertising measures can be displayed on the optical display unit 26 after perception or finding out the corresponding UPC code.

With reference to FIG. 3 it will be explained that the UPC purchase / advertising plan monitor 32 b has comparators 140, 142, 144 and 146 , each of these comparators coming from the UPC scanning unit 12 together Entrance sits, with corresponding connections exist via line 31 b and lines 31 b 1, 31 b 2, 31 b 3 and 31 bn .

Furthermore, buffers 148, 150, 152 and 154 are individually assigned to these comparators, such that lines 156, 158, 160 and 162 lead to corresponding inputs on the comparators which characterize UPCs " A, B, C and N ".

Further, the comparators 140 are - 146 via respective lines 34 b 1, 34 b 2, b 3 34, 34 bn individually with memory addresses 164, 166, 168 and 170 connected in the memory 36 for advertising messages. The output lines of the memory 36 b are jointly connected to the line 38 b , whereby the stored messages are forwarded to an advertisement, as has already been explained with reference to FIG. 1.

A number of comparators can be connected together with each of the input lines to the memory 36 b of FIG. 3 carry, and each of these comparators having an input with respect to a different UPC of a plurality of different brands or types of a common product type.

According to a more specific example of an advertising plan which is carried out in the second operating mode, it is assumed that the customer has selected a pea soup of the brand X and that the product has already been entered in the system's UPC monitor and that a comparison is made between this and the scanned UPC. The result will be positive and the memory first provides an indication on the optical display unit 26 in the form of a computer-generated graphic message or information or in the form of a repetition of a network-like advertising message generated by a video disc. The customer can be rewarded with a coupon after touching the displayed amount of goods or the price of the item or by contacting or touching a part of the screen selected in advance. In an alternative manner, the store may display advertisement information relating to another type of X soup or to another product. Depending on the purchase quantity, for example pea soup of the brand X , the advertising plan can also offer the consumer a free purchase thereof.

The invention is not limited to that shown and described Embodiments limited. It also includes all subjects male modifications and further training as well as partial and Sub-combinations of those described and / or shown Characteristics and measures.  

• Reference symbol list
  10 handling table
  12 UPC scanning unit
  14 line
  16 UPC data storage
  18 management
  20 line
  22 POS unit
  24 UPC data buffers
  26 optical display unit
  28 line
  30 line
  31 a line
  31 a 1, 31 a 2, 31 a 3 and 31 on each line
  31 b line
  31 b 1, 31 b 2, 31 b 3 and 31 bn each line
  32 a UPC purchase categorizer
  32 b UPC purchase / advertising plan monitor
  34 a line
  34 a 1, 34 a 2, 34 a 3 and 34 on each line
  34 b line
  34 b 1, 34 b 2, 34 b 3 and 34 bn each line
  36 a Memory for categorized messages
  36 b Memory for advertising messages
  38 line
  38 a output line
  38 b output line
  40, 42, 44 and 46 comparators each
  48, 50, 52 and 54 buffers each
  56, 58, 60 and 62 each line
  64, 66, 68 and 70 each have a memory location address
  140, 142, 144 and 146 each comparator
  148, 150, 152, 154 buffers each
  156, 158, 160, 162 each line
  164, 166, 168, 170 each memory location address
  S switching device
  S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 each switch
  T control switch

Claims (7)

1.Device for handling products or goods that carry detectable or scannable codes that characterize these products or goods, in particular for the purposes of product advertising and sales promotion at a handling table / cash desk, characterized by the combination of the following features:

• a) sensing or scanning means ( 12 ) for generating output signals indicative of the codes;
• b) first circuit means ( 32 a ; 32 b) for receiving the output signals from the sensing or scanning means ( 12 ) and for generating further first output signals in a selective manner on the basis of a correspondence between the code identification in such received signals and the code -Marking of preselected products;
• c) second circuit means ( 36 a ; 36 b) for receiving the further first output signals of the first circuit means, for storing advertising messages relating to the products mentioned and for generating further second output signals which are characteristic of the advertising messages, specifically in Dependence on the further first output signals of the first switching means ( 32 a ; 32 b) ; and
• d) display means ( 26 ) for receiving the further second output signals of the second circuit means ( 36 a ; 36 b) and for displaying the advertising messages contained in the further second output signals.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second circuit means ( 36 a ; 36 b) contain in their memories advertising messages relating to products whose codes are identical to those codes whose identifications in the output signals of the sensing or scanning means ( 12 ) are included. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second circuit means ( 36 a ; 36 b) contain in their memories advertising messages relating to products whose codes are different from those codes whose identifications in the output signals of the sensing or scanning means ( 12 ) are included. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first circuit means ( 32 a ; 32 b) have a number of buffers ( 48, 50, 52, 54; 148, 150, 152, 154 ), each of which Contains signals which are characteristic of the code marking for a specific one of the preselected products. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the first circuit means ( 32 a ; 32 b) further contain a number of comparators ( 40, 42, 44, 46; 140, 142, 144, 146 ), each of which Output signals of the sensing or scanning means ( 12 ) are received and individually connected to one of the buffers mentioned in order to receive the respective signal content of this buffer. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second circuit means ( 36 a ; 36 b) have a number of storage units, each of which contains an advertising message relating to a particular one of said selected products. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that each memory unit ( 64, 66, 68, 70; 164, 166, 168, 170 ) of the second circuit means ( 36 a ; 36 b) with a certain of the comparators ( 40, 42, 44, 46; 140, 142, 144, 146 ), these storage units being further connected to the display means ( 26 ) in order to supply their storage content to them.