Patent ID: 6513015
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: G06Q,G07C,G07F,G07G

Abstract:
An electronic shopping system for use in a retail facility, the system comprising:an entrance/exit sensor, positioned to identify the presence of a customer as the customer moves through the entrance/exit of a retail facility; digital visual image recording means for capturing a visual image of a customer as they pass through an entrance/exit of the retail facility, the image recording means capturing a customer's visual image in response to a trigger signal provided by the entrance/exit sensor; an interrogator unit, including an antenna, positioned in proximity to the entrance/exit of the retail facility, each interrogator defining an interrogation area characterized by a radiation field; a portable customer ID card including at least a memory storage area, the memory storage area holding at least a customer indicia, the customer indicia being communicated to the interrogator unit when a customer moves in proximity to the interrogation area; a control unit, coupled to the interrogator, sensor and image recording means, the control unit for receiving at least the customer indicia from the interrogator unit, the control unit causing the customer indicia to be bundled with that customer's visual image into a customer specific data set; and at least one in-store terminal, the in-store terminal including communication means for receiving customer specific data sets and a display, wherein a customer's recorded visual image is displayed on the in-store terminal such that a store employee may recognize that customer from their recorded image.