EP3170137A1

EP3170137A1 - Method of guiding a consumer within a shop

Info

Publication number: EP3170137A1
Application number: EP15756191.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pascal CONRATH
Original assignee: Bull SAS
Current assignee: Bull SAS
Priority date: 2014-07-17
Filing date: 2015-07-02
Publication date: 2017-05-24
Also published as: WO2016009125A1; FR3023952A1; FR3023952B1

Abstract

Method of guiding a terminal (4) within a self-service shop (2), this method comprising the following operations: acquiring a basket; calculating a path (18), comprising a succession of routes between the points (PVi) of sale of the items of the basket; locating in real time the terminal (4) within the shop (2); displaying the route in progress as long as the current position of the terminal (4) within the shop (2) coincides with the path (18): when a deviation of the terminal (4) from the path (18) is detected: calculating a new path (18); when the proximity of the terminal (4) to a point (PVi) of sale of the new path (18) is detected, displaying a route of the new path (18) having as origin the current position of the terminal (4) and as destination this point (PVi) of sale.

Description

Method of guiding a consumer within a store

The invention relates to the field of guiding people. More specifically, it relates to a method of guiding a consumer within a self-service store, to assist him in the purchase of items offered for sale in this store.

Big-box stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets, in which consumers can freely circulate themselves among the shelves and take the items themselves, are considered attractive by the multitude of references offered, the large stock available and the accessibility to the public due to their location on the outskirts of urban agglomerations and their large free parking areas.

However, the big-box stores are suffering from changes in the habits of consumers, who, increasingly, are turning to local commerce, but also to e-commerce, commonly associated with the delivery of home merchandise or to its recovery by the customer to points of sale accessible to vehicles and known under the name "drive". In this regard, see eg the study of the Regional Center for Observation of Trade and the Service Industry (CROCIS) "Large Food Supermarkets in Ile-de-France: New Strategies in the Face of Change", published in the "Enjeux Ile-de" magazine -France ", n ° 148, June 2012, accessible on the site http://www.etudes.cci-paris-idf.fr.

In addition, big-box stores are struggling to reconcile two conflicting objectives: first, to make it more efficient for consumers to visit with a shopping list (mental or written) and who wish to optimize their journey within the store. function of this list; On the other hand, and on the contrary, to encourage shopping (or shopping) activities and to this end to distract the consumer by highlighting various promotions and encouraging him to make detours among the departments without going to the points of sale. corresponding to a predetermined race list.

It is easy, with the aid of computer systems associated with on-board guidance systems, to satisfy the first objective. Australian patent application AU 2008203390 thus proposes a a system called a "supermarket browser" which, according to a predetermined list of articles, proposes an optimized route within the store, making it possible to reach the points of sale of these articles in a minimum time. This browser displays the route on a terminal embedded on a trolley available for self-service.

But such a system does not satisfy the second objective. In an attempt to remedy this, more sophisticated systems have been proposed which, to guide the consumer within the store, establish a route not only under a pre-established shopping list, but also a list of products likely to to interest him and through which the route must pass for the purposes of promoting an unplanned purchase (commonly known as coup-de-cceur). Thus, the US patent application US 2006/0059049 describes a guidance system including a programmed path generator for analyzing a shopping list, determine the location of each item within the store and generate a route that from a starting point , transits through the respective locations of the articles, cf. paragraph [0029]. The route includes a map, displayed on a terminal associated with the consumer (worn by it or embedded on a cart). This card can be updated according to the consumer's progress along the route, thanks to a terminal location system, cf. paragraph [0036].

But such a system does not satisfy the second objective. Programmed to fully assist the consumer, the system does not leave the hand to the consumer but acts on the contrary in the manner of a forced autopilot, imposing on the consumer a predefined course without offering him any margin of maneuver for the case where he would like temporarily indulge in shopping by wandering with no particular purpose among the rays.

This shows that there is a need for a solution to guide the consumer through the store's shelves when he wants to reach the points of sale of preselected items in a shopping list, while leaving him free to wander around episodically. .

For this purpose, it is proposed, in the first place, a method of guiding a consumer within a self-service store, the consumer being associated with a terminal equipped with an interface provided with a screen, this method comprising the following operations: acquire a basket containing a list of items offered for sale within the store;

identify within the store respective outlets of the basket items to be visited;

calculate a route within the store, comprising a succession of routes originating from a point of sale or an entry point of the route, and to a point of sale or an exit point of the route, at least one itinerary passing through a point of interest presumed to the consumer;

- locate in real time the terminal to establish its current position within the store;

this method comprising the repetition, as long as all the outlets have not been visited, the following operations:

as long as the current position of the terminal within the store coincides with the route:

o display the route with which the current position of the terminal coincides,

o update the displayed route by taking the current position of the terminal as the origin;

- when a point of sale is reached:

o update the route by deleting the route for the point of sale reached;

o display on the screen the following route, originating from the point of sale reached;

- when a deviation of the terminal of the course is detected:

o calculate a new route within the store, having as point of entry the current position of the terminal and including new routes to unvisited points of sale; o When the proximity of the terminal of a point of sale of the new route is detected, display a route of the new route originating from the current position of the terminal and to this point of sale.

This process is advantageous because it offers the consumer the freedom to roam temporarily without being prompted to return to the course. The result is a conciliation between an efficiency objective (encouraging the consumer to follow the path) and an objective of promoting unplanned purchases (encouraging the consumer to deviate from the course).

Various additional operations may be provided, alone or in combination:

- display information about the article corresponding to the point of sale destination of the displayed route;

display on the terminal of an interactive command whose activation leads to the selection of items initially not included in the basket;

- updating the basket by inclusion of selected items, and updating the route to include outlets of these items;

calculation of a new route according to the affluence within the store, evaluated by the location of other mobile terminals. It is proposed, secondly, a computer program product implemented on a memory medium, capable of being implemented within a computer processing unit and including instructions for the implementation of the method presented below. above.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the description of an embodiment, given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a network architecture for implementing a method of guiding a consumer in a self-service store;

- Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the development of a list (or basket) including points of sale and points of interest presumed for the consumer;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a self-service store, which is superimposed a route connecting the points of sale of the basket;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the store of Figure 3, illustrating the route and, in dotted lines, a deviation taken by the consumer;

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a carriage with a terminal being guided along the path; a route is dashed to illustrate the guidance; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the carriage of Figure 5, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 7 is a view of the terminal equipping the carriage of Figure 6, on which is shown the route of Figure 5;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the modification of a path following a detected deviation of the terminal of an initial route.

FIG. 1 shows a network architecture 1 configured to carry out the automated and remote guidance of a consumer within a self-service shop 2, such as a supermarket, a hypermarket, a large DIY space or any other large-scale self-service store including shelves 3 in which are displayed and stored items offered for sale.

This network architecture 1 comprises a mobile terminal 4 (eg mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, phablette), equipped with a communication interface provided with a display screen 5 (which can be touch-sensitive) and a system 6 of communication connected by the air interface to the mobile terminal 4.

According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication system 6 comprises a media server 7, which ensures the establishment of media sessions with the terminal 4, a location server 8, connected to the media server 7 and programmed to determine in real time the geographical position of the terminal 4 in the store 2, and a database 9 connected to the server 7 media and in which are stored data relating in particular to the articles (description, position within the store 2) and, the where appropriate, to one or more consumers associated temporarily or permanently with the terminal 4.

By server, here means any computer system capable of integrating functionalities or any computer program capable of implementing a method. A server may be a physical entity (of the type comprising a central unit incorporating various electronic components, in particular a processor running an operating system serving as support for programs computer, or a logical entity, programmed to drive remote systems).

The 7 media server and the mobile terminal 4 are configured to establish between them media sessions (for example according to the Internet protocol or IP).

To carry out the communication with the mobile terminal 4 via the air interface, the communication system 6 is equipped with a plurality of wireless access points 11 connected to the media server 7. These access points are scattered in the store 2 in a sufficiently tight mesh to allow not only a continuous media communication between the media server and the terminal 4 by guaranteeing a handover without loss of signal, but also a relatively accurate location of the terminal 4 within the store 2, which is associated with a two- or three-dimensional coordinate system (in the case of storehouses). The illustrated case shows a 2 storey store, whose associated coordinate system is two-dimensional, any point of the store 2 being completely marked by an abscissa denoted X and an ordinate denoted Y.

Each access point 11 is for example configured to operate according to the IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) standard, the access points 11 associated with the media server forming a wireless network commonly referred to as "WiFi network".

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the network architecture 1 furthermore comprises an external terminal 12 (in the sense that it is not located in the store 2) connected to the media server by an external network 13 of the metropolitan type (FIG. MAN) or expanded (WAN), typically the Internet. The external terminal 12 is for example a personal computer (or PC). The server 7 media and the external terminal 12 can establish, via the external network 13, communication sessions that allow them to exchange data related in particular to items available for sale and, where appropriate, to the consumer 10 himself .

More specifically, the external terminal 12 includes a browser-type program by which a user (for example the consumer 10 intended to come to take possession of articles within the store 2) can connect to a merchant site linked to the store 2, and within which are listed (and possibly described) the articles available to sale at store 2 and likely to be recovered against payment.

A basket 14, which includes a list of items, can therefore be established on the external terminal 12 from the merchant site. This basket 14 is illustrated on the left in FIG. 2 where it is represented as a table comprising nine articles Ai (where i is an integer greater than or equal to 1, in the example illustrated, 1 <i <9). The basket can be encoded in the form of an optical code that can be read and recognized by a dedicated device or by the mobile terminal itself, equipped in this case with a camera and a program (of a plugin) associated.

In the illustrated example, the external terminal 12 or the merchant site is programmed to generate from the basket 14 (possibly associated with data concerning the consumer 10) a two-dimensional bar code of matrix type (also known by the names Datamatrix or QR, acronym for Quick Response, in accordance with ISO / IEC 16022), and to address this code 15, via the external network 13, to the server 7 media. As a variant, the external terminal 12 or the merchant site is programmed to generate an identifier (possibly combined with a password) enabling the consumer 10, by communicating this identifier to the store 2 (for example on the mobile terminal 4), to be associated with basket 14.

In a normal operating mode, a basket 14 containing items available for sale at the store 2 is established from the external terminal 12. This basket 14 is addressed to the media server 7 and associated with a code 15 (in this case a matrix code) which can be: transmitted (for example by the air interface via a short-haul wireless LAN of the BlueTooth type, via a metropolitan or expanded wireless network of the 3G or 4G type) to a mobile secondary terminal 16 of the Smartphone type, or

printed to be made available to the consumer 10 to go to the store 2 to retrieve the items of the basket 14. Alternatively, an identifier (possibly combined with a password) is generated and communicated to the consumer 10.

After having acquired and registered the basket 14, the server 7 media identifies in the store 2 PVi points of sale (where i is a integer greater than or equal to 1; in the illustrated example, 1 <i <9) respective articles Ai, intended to be visited by the consumer 10 to retrieve the items Ai. Each point PVi of sale is defined by coordinates Xi, Yi, positioning of the article Ai, so that the server 7 media generates, from the basket 14, an enriched basket 17 (shown in the center in Figure 2) comprising the articles Ai associated with the coordinates of their respective sales points PVi, e.g. : A3; PV3 (X3, Y3).

If necessary, the media server 7 can add to the basket 17 enriched one or more point (s) PINj of interest (where j is an integer greater than or equal to 1) presumed for the consumer 10, depending for example on information available in database 9 regarding his supposed tastes or past purchases. Each PINj point of interest is a point of the store 2, defined by coordinates X'j and Y'j, where articles not included in the basket 14 are offered for sale or demonstration, or services are offered (by example the delivery of coupons), so as to distract the consumer 10 or expand his basket 14.

From the enriched basket 17 (possibly containing points of interest), the server 7 media calculates a route 18 within the store 2, which contains a succession of routes 19 connecting two by two points PVi sale and transit, where appropriate, by the PINj points of interest. Various path generation algorithms may be employed, for example algorithms that minimize the length of the path 18, algorithms that minimize or prohibit creep, or algorithms that minimize or prohibit the crossing of routes 19.

FIG. 2 shows to the right an enriched basket 17 calculated by the media server 7 and containing the points of sale of the basket reordered according to the route 18, among which are inserted the PINi points of interest through which the routes 19 pass.

A route 19 is a trip having:

for origin a sales point PVm (where m is an integer) or an input IN point of the path (this input IN point is for example located at an input of the magazine 2), for destination a sales point PVn (where n is an integer other than m) or an output OUT point of the path (this output OUT point is for example located at an output of the magazine 2).

At least one of the routes 19 of the route 18 passes through a point PINj of presumed interest for the consumer. A PINj point of interest is interposed between an origin and a destination preferably so as to minimize the length of the route 19, so that the transit by a PINj point of interest can pass relatively unnoticed from the point of view of the consumer browsing route 19.

To illustrate these remarks, FIGS. 3 and 4 show the superposition of an example of path 18 connecting the points PVi of sale and passing through the points of interest PVj of the basket 17 enriched with FIG. 2 (on the right) to a schematic view of the magazine 2 (in perspective in Figure 3, in plan in Figure 4).

In FIG. 3, each PVi point of sale is materialized by a rectangular pennant banner 20, and each PINj point of interest by a triangular flag banner 21. Correspondingly, in FIG. 4, each point PVi of sale is represented by a rectangle and each PINj point of interest by a triangle. The path 18, as well as the number of articles Ai and PINj points of interest (corresponding to those of the enriched basket 17 of FIG. 2) are provided by way of example only and have no other purpose than 'illustrative.

The path 18 thus calculated is saved in memory by the server 7 media, for example in the database 9.

The consumer 10 who arrives at the store to retrieve and purchase the items Ai from his basket 14 first identify himself to be connected to the enriched basket 17 made available on the server 7 media following the preliminary phase of establishment and registering the basket 14.

The identification of the consumer 10 can be done in different ways.

In a first case, the consumer 10 borrows a mobile terminal 4 (through which the guiding information will be disseminated) placed at his disposal at the store 2, for example at a reception counter 22, and identifies himself directly via this mobile terminal 4, for example by entering his identifier (possibly coupled to a password) on a home window, or more simply by presenting his The optical code can be printed on a sheet, or displayed on a mobile terminal (eg smartphone) owned by the consumer 10 as shown in Figure 1.

The mobile terminal 4 borrowed by the consumer can be mounted on a shopping cart 23. According to an embodiment illustrated in the figures, the carriage 23, of the current type, comprises a stretcher 24 for maneuvering in the form of a transverse bar, and it is on this stretcher 24 that the terminal 4 is mounted. 4 can be permanently attached to the stretcher 24 but, according to a preferred embodiment, the attachment of the terminal 4 to the stretcher 24 is removable, so in particular to allow the fixing of different terminal models 4 and avoid accelerated aging of the terminals 4 exposed to the weather, typically when the carriages 23 are stored outside the store 2.

In a second case, the mobile terminal 4 is that of the consumer 10, which he brings with him on the occasion of his purchases. In this case, this terminal 4, which may be of a model similar to a terminal that could be made available by the store 2 (for example a tablet), integrates a program (plugin type) clean to display the information of guidance that will be communicated to it by the 7 media server. The terminal 4 of the consumer may, as a terminal made available by the store, be mounted on the stretcher 24 for operation of a carriage 23 races. The identification of the consumer 10 with the 7 media server can be done with the 7 media server by reading an optical code displayed on the terminal 4 (for example at the reception desk 22). The integration of the terminal 4 in the wireless network of the store 2 can operate in a conventional manner (when the terminal 4 is in range), typically via a prompt automatically displayed on the terminal 4 and offering the consumer to connect to the network, for example by entering a code (WEP key type) if the network is secure, or automatically if the network is open.

In any case, since the terminal 4 is associated with the consumer 10, the media server 7 can load the path and initiate the guidance. For this purpose, the terminal 4 is located in real time, so as to establish its current position within the store 2. This location can be carried out in conventional manner by triangulation in the wireless network, by means of a program implemented on the location server 8. The location information is communicated in real time by the location server 8 to the server 7 media.

The guidance starts at the passage of the terminal 4 (that is to say, the carriage 23, when the terminal 4 is mounted on it) in the vicinity of an entry point of the magazine 2, initially considered as the point IN entrance to the course 18.

The term "neighborhood" designates, for a given point, an area including this point and having around it a certain spatial extent. It may be for example a perimeter circular contour centered on the point in question, a radius of a few decimeters to a few meters.

The passage of the terminal 4 by the input point IN is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, where the consumer 10 is shown behind his shopping trolley 23 at the very beginning of the journey 18.

The guidance includes operations that are repeated until all PVi points of sale have been visited and ends when all PVi points of sale have been visited, the conclusion being the payment of purchases.

The server 7 media can control the display on the screen 5 of the terminal 4, the entire path 18, but such a display is not essential. In the event that this display is provided, it can be realized temporarily, for example during the passage of the terminal 4 to the IN point of the entry of the path 18, so as to allow the consumer 10 to view it. Concomitantly, an average time required to cover the route 18, calculated by the server 7 media, can also be displayed to allow the consumer 10 to evaluate its time of presence in the store 2.

As long as the current position of the carriage 23 in the magazine 2 coincides with the path 18 (which means that the consumer 10 respects it), the media server 7 controls the display of the route 19 with which the position coincides terminal 4, and updates the displayed route 19, taking as its origin the position This procedure corresponds to a standard guidance procedure of GPS (Global Position System) type.

Thus, in the example of FIG. 2, as soon as or immediately after passing through the input IN point, the terminal 4 displays the route 19 towards the article A7.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the display may comprise a window on which is displayed a local schematic or immersive view of the magazine 2, on which is superimposed a guiding strip 25 which, originating in the foreground and ending at the next point of sale (in this case PV3), materializes the route to the latter, identified as a banner 20 rectangular flag. The view displayed on the screen 5 of the terminal 4 in FIG. 7 corresponds to the actual situation of the terminal 4 illustrated in FIG. 5, where dashed line 19 is shown to the next point of sale (in point 1). species PV3, materialized by its banner 20 with rectangular flag).

The update of the display is effected by a scroll of the environment and an apparent swallowing of the guide strip 25 in the foreground of the view.

An image (eg a photograph) of the article (in this case

A3) corresponding to the next point of sale (here PV3, destination of the route) can be displayed together, for example next to the guidance view. For purely illustrative purposes, the article A3 shown here is a barrel of household detergent product.

When a point PVi of sale is reached, the server 7 media updates the route 18 by deleting the route 19 having for destination point PVi sale reached, and displays on the screen the following route 19, having for origin the point of sale PVi achieved. This route 19 may lead to the next item in the basket or, when all PVi points of sale have been visited, to the OUT point of exit 18, which may coincide with a zone (which may be large) of the store 2 in which are the cash registers 26, 27. Figures 3 and 4 show 26 manual crates, where a cashier operator scans the items Ai and supervises the payment, and automatic boxes 27 where the consumer himself performs these operations. Several events may allow the media server to declare that a PVi point of sale is reached:

the terminal 4 passes in the neighborhood (within the meaning of the definition above) of the point of sale PVi as defined by its coordinates Xi, Yi;

the consumer 10 records on the terminal 4 the withdrawal of the item Ai corresponding to the point PVi sale, for example by touching a button 28 validation displayed on the screen 5;

the removal of the item Ai on the shelf is detected directly by the media server 7, for example by detecting a movement of a chip (typically of the RFID type) integrated in the item Ai, by means of terminals scattered in the store 2;

the inclusion of the item Ai in the carriage 23 is detected by the server 7 media, for example by detection at the carriage of the proximity of a chip (typically RFID type) integrated in the article Ai.

These events can possibly be combined, so as to allow a double (or triple) control and guarantee the actual completion of purchases.

The passage through a PINj point of interest can be detected in the same way. The detection of the eventual collection of an item at the PINj point of interest is advantageous because it makes it possible to refine the profile of the consumer 10, in particular concerning the tastes of the latter by validating the presumptions concerning his interests. The consumer profile 10 can thus be updated in the database 9 at the initiative of the media server.

All this procedure is repeated as the current position of the terminal 4 coincides with the route 18 calculated by the server 7 media.

The system 6 is however also programmed to allow the consumer 10 to deviate from the course, for example to roam among the shelves 3 and indulge temporarily in a shopping activity, without any attempt on the part of the system 6 to bring it back into the course 18.

For this purpose, when a deviation of the terminal 4 of the path 18 is detected, the server 7 media calculates, in the first place, a new path 18 within the store 2, having for entry point IN the current position of the terminal 4 and including new routes 19 to PVi sales points unvisited. In this way, the server 7 media anticipates the cessation by the consumer 10 of his shopping activity, which can occur at any time. The new path 18 is stored in the data base 9, without necessarily being displayed on the terminal 4. In fact, it is preferable not to display the new path 18 during the shopping activity of the consumer 10, so as not to distract him or stress him. The display can thus be fixed on the last image displayed before detecting the deviation, or show an iconography testifying to the temporary holding of the guidance. This iconography may be in the form of a flashing of the displayed image, or in the form of a logographic or verbal pictogram (for example a message of the "suspended guidance" type).

When the proximity of the terminal 4 of a point PVi of sale of the new route 18 is detected, the server 7 media decrees that the consumer 10 has finished his shopping activity in order to concentrate again on the planned purchases. The server 7 media then controls the display on the screen 5 of the terminal 4 of a route 19 of the new route 18 originating from the current position of the terminal 4 and for destination point PVi sale in the vicinity of which the terminal 4 is positioned.

This situation is illustrated in FIG. 4, in which a deviation 29 borrowed by the consumer 10 (ie by the terminal 4) is shown in dashed line starting from point PV5 of sale of the article A5. .

As long as the position of the terminal 4 is located outside neighborhoods PVi sales points not visited, the control is, in a way, in manual mode, the consumer 10 being decreed autonomous. As soon as the position of the terminal 4 reaches the neighborhood (materialized by a dashed circle) of an unvisited point of sale (in this case the point PV3 of sale of the article A3), the guidance resumes from the current position of the terminal, the consumer being decreed wishing to resume guiding. The terminal 4 then displays the route 19 connecting the current position of the terminal to the point of sale of the article A3.

When the guidance resumes on the new recalculated route 18, the normal guiding operations are repeated again as described above. A new deflection of the terminal 4 of the programmed path 18 can be detected at any time, and in this case the media server 7 again calculates a new path 18, as described above, until the terminal 4 is detected in the neighborhood of a PVi point of sale not visited.

It will be noted that the new course 18 can take routes that the initial course would not have borrowed, depending on the configuration of the course and the priorities imposed on the system 6 (minimization of time, minimization of distance or avoidance of cusps). The order of visit PVi points of sale can be changed, even inverted, some PINj points of interest can disappear, new PINj points of interest appear.

This situation is illustrated in FIG. 8, where the second half of the path 18 corresponding to the enriched basket 17 of FIG. 2 is schematized at the top of the figure. The residual enriched basket (including the PIN points d) remaining interest) is shown to the right of the route diagram 18. The calculated course 18 is materialized in solid line, and the deflection 29 taken by the terminal 4 (that is to say by the consumer 10) is materialized in dashed lines. It can be seen that the terminal 4 deviates after having visited item PV9 of sale of article A9, and that it moves (without necessarily knowing it) towards point PV8 of sale of article A8, which was not to be reached only after the respective sales points PV6, PV2 and PV4 of items A6, A2 and A4.

A new path 18 is calculated and, as soon as the terminal 4 is detected in the vicinity (shown by the dot-dashed circle) of the sales point PV8 of the article A8, the guidance resumes for first directing the terminal 4 towards this PV8 sales point, then to the other PVi points of sale not yet visited. The new route starting from the current position of the terminal 4 in the vicinity of the point PV8 of sale of the article A8 is shown below in FIG. 8: it can be seen that the planned circulation of the terminal 4 is reversed with respect to the initial course, which the PIN4 point of interest is removed and a new PIN6 point of interest is interposed between the sales point PV6 of item A6 and the output (OUT). The new enriched basket 17 is shown to the right of the diagram illustrating the new course 18.

Note that the guidance of the terminal 4 may be interrupted at the initiative of the consumer 10 (for example by activation of a cancel key on the screen 5 of the terminal 4), in particular for an early checkout, typically when occurs an event likely to shorten the visit of the consumer 10. The guidance can also be interrupted automatically when the system 6, after detecting a deviation, detects the passage of the terminal 4 in the vicinity of the output OUT point.

The guiding method described above makes it possible to leave the consumer free of his movements within the magazine 2, when he wishes to deviate temporarily from the displayed route 19, without this behavior appearing abnormal from the point of view of the system. 6, which detects the deviation without prompting the consumer 10 to return to the path 18. The return to the path 18 (and guidance) is done naturally and automatically, thanks to the detection by the system 6 of the location of the terminal 4 to neighborhood of a PVi point of sale. It will be understood that this procedure makes it possible to combine a relatively precise guide of the consumer 10 within the store 2 when he wishes to go to the points PVi of sale to remove the articles Ai from his basket 14, while allowing him to temporarily deviate course 18 without fear of losing or retracing his steps, considering the calculation of a new course.

The guidance method is implemented by the system 6 on instructions of a computer program, implemented on a memory medium of the system 6 (in particular within a processor of the media server 7).

Various alternatives or options may be considered.

For example, with regard to the location of the terminal 4, it is conceivable to use the other terminals 4 present in the store 2 as relays for the location signal, instead of or in addition to the WiFi access points 11. This feature can be interesting when the WiFi signal is weak in some areas. Similarly, WiFi technology, given as an example, can be replaced or assisted by other wireless technologies, such as radio-identification (RFID). In this case, a chip is embedded in the terminal 4 to allow its identification and location by triangulation from scattered antennas in the store 2.

Similarly, the knowledge by the system 6 of the location of the set of terminals 4 makes it possible to envisage the calculation by the system 6 alternative routes (or complete routes) to minimize the blocking situations according to the influx avoiding congestion areas, or to distribute the traffic to the boxes 26, 27. For this purpose, it is possible to include in the communication provided by the system 6 to the terminal information about the clogging of the boxes 26, 27, and even guide the terminal 4 to the box or boxes 26, 27 experiencing a lower affluence. This results in an automated regulation of the affluence (and therefore the waiting time) at the boxes 26, 27. The congestion information of the boxes 26, 27 can be made available to a manager authorized to manage the available human resources at the boxes 26, 27 (opening / closing the boxes 26, 27). In particular, the system 6 can calculate the average travel time of the various terminals 4 being guided, and evaluate in advance the future convergence towards the boxes 26, 27. It is therefore possible to anticipate the opening and the closing the boxes 26, 27 according to the inflow to come.

Similarly, it is possible to make available to the consumer 10, via the terminal 4, commercial or technical information concerning the items Ai of his basket 14. The access to this information can be offered to the consumer 10 via an interaction with the consumer. screen 5 of the terminal 4 (that is to say the activation of an interactive command displayed on the terminal 4, for example a button), or provided automatically as soon as the visit of a point is detected PVi of sale. It is conceivable, depending on the actions of the consumer 10 on the terminal 4, to update the basket 14 (and therefore the route 18) if the consumer 10 decides, for example, to acquire certain items not belonging to the basket 14, including the ingredients of a recipe displayed on the occasion of the withdrawal of an article Ai from the initial basket 14 and implementing this article Ai. For example, when the item Ai of the basket 14 is a bottle of milk, and the terminal 4 has reached the point PVi corresponding sale, the terminal 4 can display a pancake recipe comprising in its ingredients, besides the bought milk, flour and eggs. In this case, the system 6 can be programmed to allow the consumer 10 to update his basket 14 by including one, several or all of the ingredients of the recipe. The enriched basket 17 and the route 18 are then updated to allow the visit points PVi sales corresponding. New points PINj of interest can be integrated, which can be correlated with the recipe displayed and used by the consumer 10 (for example, in the case of pancakes, a route 19 can pass through a point of sale of vanilla or sugar, ingredients likely to decorate the pancakes).

Comparisons may also be proposed to the consumer 10 via the terminal 4, which thus serves as an aid to the purchase decision. The system 6 may suggest items that are alternative to those chosen by the consumer 10, depending on their availability at the store 2 or based on consumer profile information 10 (typically, in the case of food allergy, the system may propose non-allergenic products in place of basket products 14).

Claims

1. Method for guiding a consumer (10) within a self-service store (2), the consumer (10) being associated with a terminal (4) equipped with an interface provided with a screen (5) ), this method comprising the following operations:

acquiring a basket (14) containing a list of items (Ai) offered for sale within the store (2);

identifying within the store (2) respective points (PVi) of sale of articles (Ai) of the basket (14) to be visited; calculating a route (18) within the magazine (2), comprising a succession of routes (19) originating from a point (PVi) of sale or an entry point (IN) of the route (18), and for destination a point (PVi) of sale or an exit point (OUT) of the route (18), at least one route (19) passing through a point

(PINj) of presumed interest to the consumer (10);

locate in real time the terminal (4) to establish its current position within the store (2);

this method comprising the repetition, as long as all the points (PVi) of sale have not been visited, the following operations:

as the current position of the terminal (4) within the magazine (2) coincides with the path (18):

o display the route (19) with which the current position of the terminal (4) coincides,

o update the route (19) displayed by taking the origin of the current position of the terminal (4);

when a sales point (PVi) is reached:

o update the route (18) by deleting the route (19) for the point of sale (PVi) reached; o display on the screen the following route (19), originating from the point (PVi) of sale reached;

when a deviation of the terminal (4) of the path (18) is detected: o calculating a new path (18) within the magazine (2), whose point of entry is the current position of the terminal (4) and comprising new routes (19) to the points

(PVi) unvisited sales; when the proximity of the terminal (4) of a point (PVi) of sale of the new path (18) is detected, displaying a route (19) of the new path (18) originating from the current position of the terminal (4) ) and for destination this point (PVi) of sale.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a display operation of information relating to the article (Ai) corresponding to the point (PVi) sales destination of the route (19) displayed.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises the display on the terminal (4) of an interactive command whose activation leads to the selection of items initially not included in the basket (14).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises an update operation of the basket (14) by inclusion of the items (Ai) selected, and the update of the course (18) to include points ( PVi) sales of these items (Ai).

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the calculation of a new route (18) according to the affluence within the store (2), evaluated by the location of other terminals (4) mobile.

6. Computer program product implemented on a memory medium, capable of being implemented within a computer processing unit and including instructions for the implementation of a method according to one of the preceding claims.