Methods and systems for assisting a purchase at a physical point of sale

A system having a device for assisting a purchase, incorporating:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is the U.S. national phase of PCT Application No. PCT/FR2019/050213 filed on Jan. 30, 2019, which claims priority to FR Patent Application No. 1850812 filed on Jan. 31, 2018, the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.

The invention relates to the technical domain of methods and systems for improving the retail shopping experience, and more specifically to methods and systems for assisting purchasing at self-service retail points of sale.

In this case, “self-service retail point of sale” means any physical place of sale where customers can move freely through the sections and help themselves to the items offered for sale.

In such points of sale, a customer with a portable container, such as a basket or a tote bag, provided by the point of sale or belonging to the customer, selects items and places the items in the container, as said customer moves around the point of sale.

When finished shopping, the customer goes to the checkout, which is usually located at the exit of the point of sale, to pay for the items.

Once payment has been made, ownership of the items is transferred to the customer, thereby completing the purchase transaction.

The development of e-commerce is seen as a means of saving time. The result is that customers who still go to physical shops are less and less tolerant of spending lots of time there.

Consequently, the company Amazon recently proposed a grocery store with no checkout or payment terminals, but with cameras and sensors that detect the products taken from the sections or returned to the sections by the customer, keeping a tally in a virtual basket. Upon entering the store, the customer scans an application on their mobile terminal to identify the customer and to withdraw money from an Amazon account when the customer leaves. The technology used enables the habits and behaviors of shoppers to be observed, and eliminates waiting in line at the checkout. But this technology requires thousands of sensors and cameras located on the ceiling of the store, and implementation thereof, which is costly and complex, is only proposed for a single point of sale.

In existing conventional points of sale, in addition to having to wait in line for a checkout or payment terminal, the customer has to remove all of the items from their basket before returning said items (or placing said items in bags) once said items have been checked out at the checkout or terminal.

In other words, when making a purchase at a self-service point of sale, the customer places the items to be purchased in their basket while shopping and, when at the checkout, has to:wait their turn, if it is busy,unload all of the items carried in the basket,wait for a cashier or a payment terminal to scan these items one by one and to validate payment, andput the purchased items back into the same or another basket.

These steps involve an unwanted waste of time for the customer, which is often accompanied by a distorted perception of time. Indeed, even if objectively short, the time spent is often perceived by the customer as being considerably longer than the time that has actually elapsed, which has an impact on performance of the point of sale.

In order to improve the performance of a self-service point of sale, solutions intended to improve the shopping experience of customers have been proposed, notably by reducing the time spent at the checkout.

According to a first solution known as “self-scanning”, the customer is invited to scan their own purchases using a barcode reader provided at the entrance of the point of sale. The customer uses this reader to scan the items placed in the basket as the customer moves along the sections of the point of sale. At the checkout, the cashier need only download the information from the reader and supervise payment. This makes checking out relatively easy for the customer.

Another solution known as “self-check-out” or “automatic check out” involves the customer doing the work of the cashier. Having arrived at a checkout device, the customer empties their basket and scans the items one by one themself, carefully following the instructions intended for customers. The customer then pays for the purchase and collects their items.

In another solution, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags are built into the items offered for sale to enable the simultaneous identification of all of the items placed in the customer's basket. When the customer goes to the checkout to pay for the purchases, an RFID reader reads the RFID tags built into the different items without having to remove said items from the customer's basket, thereby speeding up the checkout process.

However, there are drawbacks to the known solutions, both for customers and for the points of sale.

The “self-scanning” and “self-check-out” methods, which are based on a guided contribution/collaboration by the customer, require technical and social acceptance of the tool provided.

A lack of familiarity with these tools or refusal to make an additional effort to adapt thereto hold back adoption by customers.

Furthermore, to ensure successful cooperation, the customer has to clearly understand what is expected of them, to be motivated to adopt the related behavior and to have the skills required to carry out the assigned tasks.

For some customers, the use of the tools provided requires an additional intellectual effort that said customers are not necessarily prepared to make.

For self-scanning, customers have to remember to scan each item placed in the basket.

However, it is common for customers to wonder whether an item just placed in the basket was scanned at all, or whether said item was scanned twice, resulting in a moment of doubt and a loss of time, both of which are undesirable.

Furthermore, these methods based on customer involvement effectively make the customer an “executive customer”, which may be value destroyers for the customer.

Indeed, by scanning the items themself, either by means of self-scanning or self-check-out, a customer can feel that they are doing the tasks in place of the staff at the point of sale (thereby working for the point of sale without getting anything in return). This could be perceived badly by the customer and consequently the customer's shopping experience.

The shopping experience of the customer is also negatively affected by the essential mechanical aspect of scanning their items one by one.

The solution based on the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags is costly since it requires the configuration and integration of an RFID tag in all of the items offered for sale.

For some products, the cost of integrating an RFID tag can easily make the price thereof prohibitive in terms of the customer's expectations.

Furthermore, this option is only really available to points of sale that are involved in the production chain of the items offered for sale.

Such a solution is therefore not available to any point of sale offering for sale items of different categories and/or from different manufacturers.

This last solution also poses the problem of obtaining a precise count of the full content of a basket, i.e. the ability to precisely identify all of the items placed in said basket.

Notably, it is possible for an RFID tag of an item placed in the center of the basket to be covered by one or more other items (which act as radio wave insulators), thereby preventing communication with the RFID scanner/reader and resulting in the item in question not being precisely identified or not being detected at all.

Partial scanning of a basket results in a loss for the point of sale.

Document WO2016/135142 (Heinrich) describes a shopping cart including sensors that collect data that are used to automatically identify an item placed in the shopping cart by the customer.

However, this solution has drawbacks.

For the point of sale, shopping carts are, on account of the volume thereof, usually nestable and stored outside the point of sale (parking lot, near to the entrance of the point of sale or at the exit of the point of sale). The sensors installed therein can therefore easily be damaged when nesting the shopping carts. Furthermore, the sensors are not monitored by the point of sale and are accessible to users outside the point of sale, making said sensors vulnerable to attempted tampering or damage. Moreover, shopping carts are liable to be subjected to impacts that could negatively affect the correct operation of the sensors.

Furthermore, depending on the requirements of the customer (for example, fewer than ten items) and/or the range or space at the point of sale (small items, luxury items, insufficient space to move around with a shopping cart, presence of obstacles or stairs preventing use of shopping carts), a shopping cart may not be suited to shopping in such points of sale.

Furthermore, to benefit from the advantages of the system described in document WO2016/135142, the customer is required to use said shopping cart. This solution is not available to customers with a tote bag not designed for this solution.

Furthermore, the shopping cart is usually provided by the point of sale, such that the customer is required to retrieve their items and return the shopping cart used to the point of sale once shopping is completed. This solution, although able to speed up the check-out procedure for customers, does not save the time required to retrieve the items from the shopping cart.

One objective of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

Another objective of the present invention is to propose a purchase assistance solution requiring less customer effort.

Another objective of the present invention is to improve the shopping experience at a self-service retail point of sale by minimizing the elapsed time as perceived by the customer.

Another objective of the present invention is to improve the shopping experience at a self-service physical point of sale by reducing the time required to scan items at the checkout.

Another objective of the present invention is to promote shopping activities.

One objective of the present invention is to propose a system that provides an updated list of the items in the customer's basket, as the customer makes their purchases at a self-service point of sale.

Another objective of the present invention is to propose methods and a system that streamline and speed up the checkout procedure.

Another objective of the present invention is to propose a purchase assistance device in a self-service point of sale for a customer having their own basket/tote bag or a portable container provided by the point of sale.

Another objective of the present invention is to propose a purchase assistance system for a customer having any type of portable container, notably a portable container that belongs to the customer and that can be of practically any shape.

Another objective of the present invention is to encourage the use of connected digital technologies in warehouses (smart-shopping) to improve the shopping experience in physical points of sale.

For this purpose, a system comprising a customer purchase assistance device at a self-service retail point of sale is firstly proposed, including:a central portion,suspension arms which are connected to the central portion and extend on either side of the central portion, said suspension arms being intended to be connected to a portable container provided with an opening enabling an item offered for sale at the point of sale to be placed in this portable container, so as to allow said portable container to be carried by said device, the central portion facing said opening when said device is being used to carry the portable container,at least one movement sensor which is configured to detect a movement through the opening of the portable container when said device is being used to carry the portable container,at least one image sensor which is configured to detect at least one image of a scene at least partially covering the opening, when said device is being used to carry the portable container and the movement sensor has detected a movement through said opening,a position sensor which is configured to determine the current position of said device in the point of sale, the system also including:processing means provided with information on a list of items offered for sale at the point of sale and that are configured to recognize, with a predetermined confidence level, an item appearing in said at least one image, this item being recognized from a reduced list of items included in said list of items, this reduced list of items being determined as a function of a position of said device determined by the position sensor.

Various additional features may be implemented, individually or in combination:the reduced list of items is determined as a function of the current position and/or a previous position of the purchase assistance device,the central portion of the purchase assistance device includes an image sensor,the purchase assistance device also includes a weight sensor that is configured to measure a variation in the weight of the portable container when the device is being used to carry the portable container, the processing means also using this variation to recognize said item appearing in said at least one image,the purchase assistance device also includes at least one distance sensor that is configured to measure a distance between said distance sensor and an item at least partially within the measurement field of said distance sensor, contactlessly and when the device is being used to carry the portable container,the suspension arms include retaining means that are designed to hold this portable container open when said device is being used to carry the portable container,the retaining means include a contact sensor that is configured to detect the use of said device to carry a portable container,the purchase assistance device includes a handle that is linked to the central portion,the device includes a card reader that is configured to read a customer identifier from a physical or virtual card, the processing means being configured to associate said device with said customer identifier.

Secondly, an assembly including a portable container and the purchase assistance device is proposed. In certain embodiments, the portable container is made of deformable material.

In this case, “self-service retail point of sale” means any physical point of sale, which may be specialized in a given category of products or otherwise, where customers can move about freely and help themselves to the items offered for sale.

The point of sale is for example a boutique, a bazar, a specialist store, a big-box store, a supermarket or a hypermarket.

By way of non-limiting example, self-service retail points of sale can include stores specializing in beauty products, parapharmacies, duty-free stores, grocery stores, bookstores, big-box food stores, small supermarkets, large DIY stores, supermarkets or hypermarkets belonging to a large-scale food retailer.

In such points of sale, as shown inFIG. 1, the items1are offered for sale in sections2through which a customer3with a portable container4can move freely and fill a basket during said movement without the intervention of the staff of the point of sale10.

The sections2at the point of sale10are most commonly store gondolas or, more generally, supports5(displays, trays, stands, shelves, pallets and the like) designed to support or contain (in the case of refrigerated store gondolas) the items1offered for sale.

These store gondolas can be provided in a range of forms, such as island gondolas51and/or wall gondolas52and/or central gondolas53and/or rack gondolas54.

Gondola heads55can also be arranged at the end of aisles of central gondolas53.

The items1are usually placed on store gondola shelves or attached to pegs, bars or arms mounted on the store gondolas or on any other support5.

With reference toFIGS. 2 to 5, the portable container4is being carried by the customer3using a purchase assistance device41that is designed to help the customer3to make purchases in the point of sale10.

In certain embodiments, the purchase assistance device41is an integral part of the portable container4.

In other embodiments, the purchase assistance device41is coupled removably to the portable container4. In other words, the purchase assistance device41can be separated from the portable container4and can be mounted thereon or removed therefrom.

The purchase assistance device41and the portable container4are, in certain embodiments, provided to the customer3separately or assembled, for example at the entrance to the point of sale10or at any other location of the point of sale10.

The portable container4is for example a basket with handles enabling the basket to be held and carried comfortably, with or without the purchase assistance device41.

More generally, the portable container4is any recipient/container/basket/bag having fastening points (such as attachment points, holes, slots, anchoring elements, handles) that are designed to receive the purchase assistance device41and to be carried comfortably by the customer3using this purchase assistance device41.

The portable container4can be made of one or more rigid, semi-rigid or deformable materials.

For example, the portable container4is a basket with handles made of a polymer material or metal wire, a tote bag made of fabric (for example nylon or cotton) or a kraft-paper bag.

The portable container4can be provided to the customer3by the point of sale10, offered for sale at the point of sale10, or brought by the customer3.

In certain embodiments, so as not to occupy space at the point of sale10, the portable container4can be folded and/or nested/stacked when separated from the purchase assistance device41.

The portable container has an opening that provides access to the inside of this portable container4. This opening enables the customer3to insert or remove items1. The opening is usually a main opening opposite the bottom of the portable container4.

When the customer3carries the portable container4using the purchase assistance device41, this purchase assistance device41is above the portable container4.

In other words, the purchase assistance device41overhangs the opening of the portable container4.

The purchase assistance device41therefore faces the opening of the portable container4.

The inside of the portable container4is easily accessible to the customer3from the space on either side of the purchase assistance device41.

In certain embodiments, the purchase assistance device41is in the form of a handle or the like.

In certain embodiments, the purchase assistance device41is mounted pivotingly on the portable container4with or without a vertical locking system.

Alternatively, where the purchase assistance device41is an integral part of the portable container4(i.e. when said device and the portable container4together form a single part) or where said device is mounted thereon, the purchase assistance device41is held vertical opposite the opening of the portable container4such as to divide the space for accessing the inside of said portable container4into substantially identical subspaces.

In the example inFIGS. 2 and 4, the purchase assistance device41separates the opening for accessing the inside of the portable container4into two substantially identical subspaces.

The purchase assistance device41has a central portion411, suspension arms412that are linked to the central portion411and that extend from either side of said central portion411, and a handle413linked to the central portion411.

In the examples inFIGS. 2 to 5, the purchase assistance device41has two suspension arms412that extend from two opposing side faces of the central portion411.

In another embodiment (not shown), the purchase assistance device41has three, four or more than four suspension arms412.

In certain embodiments, the suspension arms412are substantially identical and distributed uniformly about the central portion411.

The suspension arms412are designed to hold the portable container4open so that the inside or the content thereof can be seen, notably if said portable container is easily deformable (for example bags made of plastic, fabric or kraft paper).

In certain embodiments, the suspension arms412are telescopic and/or rigid enough to hold the portable container4open while the portable container is being carried by the purchase assistance device41so that the inside thereof can be seen.

The suspension arms412enable the purchase assistance device41to hold the handles of the portable container4apart. To do so, each suspension arm412has retaining means414at the distal portion thereof.

The retaining means414enable the handles of the portable container4to be held apart, thereby holding this portable container4open so the inside thereof can be seen.

In certain embodiments, the retaining means414include a reclosable ring. The reclosable ring has magnetic ends that enable said ring to be closed about the handles of the portable container4and to facilitate withdrawal of the purchase assistance device41.

The handle413of the purchase assistance device41is designed to enable the portable container4to be comfortably carried in one hand. In certain embodiments (not shown in the figures), the handle413is mounted pivotingly on the central portion411. For this purpose, a neck extending from the central portion411links the handle413to this central portion411. In certain embodiments, the neck can extend telescopically or in the form of a notched stem.

The central portion411facing the inside of the portable container4carried by the purchase assistance device41includes a processing unit415linked to a plurality of sensors and to at least one wireless communication interface built into the purchase assistance device41.

These means are used to identify the items1in the portable container4carried by the customer3.

In this case, processing unit415means any physical device (including a processor, memory, buses and other electronic components used to execute computer programs) that is able to capture data and to provide the functionality required to implement a data processing method.

In certain embodiments, the purchase assistance device41includes a first wireless communication interface416enabling direct or indirect communication between the processing unit415and a local or remote server, such as a processing server, and/or a payment server, and/or a customer account server, and/or a push notification server, and/or a messaging server. This first wireless communication interface416is for example a Wi-Fi® interface, a WiMax® interface, or an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network interface (such as 3G, 4G or 5G).

In certain embodiments, this first wireless communication interface416enables communication over a local network between the processing unit415and a plurality of access points distributed throughout the point of sale10. The access points are arranged throughout the point of sale10in a predetermined mesh (such as by stage, radius or zone). Each of these access points is linked to one or more remote servers and routes communication from the processing unit415to the appropriate remote/local servers as a function of the content of the communication, the position of the purchase assistance device41in the point of sale10, or the availability of the destination server.

In a variant or in combination, the purchase assistance device41has a second wireless communication interface417enabling communication between the processing unit415and a user terminal (such as a smartphone, a tablet or a phablet), connected objects or beacons arranged according to a predetermined mesh in the point of sale10. This second wireless communication interface417is for example a Bluetooth® interface, a HomeRF® interface, a ZigBee interface, or an infrared interface (IR).

The purchase assistance device41includes a movement sensor418. This movement sensor418is configured to detect any movement involved in inserting or removing an item1into/from the portable container4(such as any entry into the inside of the portable container4).

In certain embodiments, a plurality of movement sensors418is arranged inside the purchase assistance device41to cover the entire opening of the portable container4.

By way of example, a plurality of infrared movement sensors418is arranged on the lower face (in the case shown inFIG. 2) and/or the inner face (in the case shown inFIG. 4) of the central portion411of the purchase assistance device41. These movement sensors418are oriented such that the fields of vision thereof together at least partially cover the opening and/or the inside of the portable container4.

The movement sensor418notifies the processing unit415of any movement through the opening of the portable container4that is detected.

The purchase assistance device41advantageously includes a weight sensor419that is used by the processing unit415to detect any change/variation in the weight of the portable container4carried by the customer3. This enables the processing unit415to determine this variation. A variation in weight can be caused by an item1being placed in or removed from the portable container4. The processing unit415then has a value of the weight of an item1that has just been placed in or removed from the portable container4. The sensitivity of the weight sensor419can be set as a function of the lowest weight of the items1offered for sale and/or as a function of the differences between the weights of different items1offered for sale. In certain embodiments, the weight sensor419continuously samples the current weight of the portable container4, at a predetermined frequency or when requested by the processing unit415.

The variations in the weight of the portable container4that are detected by the weight sensor419are known at all times by the processing unit415, which in certain embodiments saves said variations in a buffer memory of predetermined size.

In certain embodiments, the weight sensor419is built into the handle413or into the suspension arms412of the purchase assistance device41.

The processing unit415can request a continuous or discrete weight reading from the weight sensor419for a predetermined time correlated to the detection of movement by the movement sensor418.

In a variant, the weight sensor419communicates the measurements taken at a predetermined frequency. These measurements are saved in a buffer memory and timestamped by the processing unit415. Consequently, when the movement sensor418notifies a detected movement, the processing unit415can observe the variation in the weight measurements provided by the weight sensor419.

The purchase assistance device41advantageously includes one or more image sensors420(or visual sensors).

Each of the image sensors420is designed to capture static images or videos including at least part of the opening of the portable container4. When the portable container4is being carried using the purchase assistance device41, the image sensors are used to capture an image of an item1in the opening and/or inside the portable container4.

To do so, the central portion411of the purchase assistance device41advantageously includes a central image sensor420, as shown inFIGS. 2 to 5. This central image sensor420is arranged at the center on the inner face of the central portion411such that the field of vision of the central image sensor420includes the inside of the portable container4. The central image sensor420thus enables an image of the inside of the portable container4to be taken.

The purchase assistance device41advantageously also includes lateral image sensors420installed on either side of the central image sensor420. Each of the lateral image sensors420enables an image of at least the corresponding half of the space of the opening of the portable container4to be taken.

In certain embodiments, when the portable container4is being carried by the purchase assistance device41, the central imagesensor420is oriented (or directed) towards the inside of the portable container4and the lateral image sensors are oriented towards at least a portion of the contour of the opening of the portable container4.

In certain embodiments, the purchase assistance device41includes a plurality of lateral image sensors420, preferably uniformly distributed over the inner face of the central portion411and/or arranged on the face opposite the inside of the portable container4of the suspension arms412.

In certain embodiments, the contour of the opening of the portable container4is covered by the combination of the fields of vision of the image sensors420.

The acquisition of images by the image sensor420enables the visual recognition of the item or items1that may appear in the images taken. The acquisition of images from several image sensors420provides images of more than one side or view of the item1(images taken from several viewing angles), thereby facilitating recognition of the item1.

More generally, the image sensor420is advantageously any sensor able to capture image data usable by the processing unit415, such as a camera or digital camera, a 2D/3D camera, a 3D depth-sensing camera, or a stereoscopic image sensor. The image sensor420can include an omnidirectional lens, a wide-angle lens, a fish-eye lens or the like. Moreover, the lens can have reflective surfaces, such as flat, parabolic or conical mirrors, that can be used to provide a relatively large field of vision or multiple points of view, such as to optimize coverage of the inside of the portable container4and the space providing access to the inside thereof.

In certain embodiments, the image sensors420are arranged to provide volumetric data, notably a depth metric, enabling one or more dimensions of an item1appearing in the captured images to be evaluated.

In certain embodiments, the image sensor420is coupled to a lighting device to illuminate the scene (notably the inside of the portable container4), if necessary, towards which the image sensor420is oriented.

Image capture can be ordered selectively by the processing unit415, i.e. only of specific image sensors420and not of all of the image sensors420. For example, only those image sensors420with fields of vision that overlap the field of vision of a movement sensor418detecting a movement capture one or more images, at the request of the processing unit415or as a result of coupling with said movement sensor418.

In certain embodiments, the movement sensor418is coupled to one or more image sensors420, so that detection of a movement through a portion of the opening of the portable container4automatically triggers capture of one or more images by the image sensor or sensors covering said portion of the opening.

For example, two infrared movement sensors418oriented towards the inside and/or the edges of the opening of the portable container4trigger the lateral image sensors adjacent thereto when a movement is detected. If additional images are required, the central image sensor420can be triggered a predetermined time later (for example one or two seconds, the moment when the item is placed and/or when a positive variation in the weight of the portable container4is detected).

The purchase assistance device41advantageously also includes a position sensor421. This position sensor421is any means able to capture data used to determine the position of the purchase assistance device41in the point of sale10. By way of example, the position sensor421is an RFID tag, a sound sensor (i.e. a microphone), a Bluetooth® chip, an antenna network, or a GPS receiver (if the GPS signal enables sufficiently precise locating of the device41within the point of sale10).

The position of the purchase assistance device41inside the point of sale10can be expressed in:a two-dimensional XY coordinate system (or XYZ if the point of sale10is arranged over several floors) associated with the point of sale10,a curved coordinate system, where the customer3is required to follow a customer route,a system partitioning the space of the point of sale10into several portions, such as sections2formed by store gondolas (“confectionery section”, “culture section” for example), zones (store entrance, central aisle, discount area, promotion area, organic products area, a certain category or brand of products, cash register zone, for example), or levels (ground floor, level 1 or level 2 for example), ora combination of these systems.

In certain embodiments, the position sensor421is configured to receive signals emitted by:beacons (for example Bluetooth® Low energy, RFID beacons, Bluetooth beacons, Wi-Fi beacons, sound beacons) or antennas deployed according to a mesh covering the point of sale10. In certain embodiments, these beacons broadcast signals/frequencies attributed to zones or sections2and enable the precise locating of the purchase assistance device41in the point of sale10,electronic price tags fastened to the shelves of the store gondolas. Indeed, like price information or promotional operations, location data (such as the identifier of the section2, coordinates in the point of sale10, or an identifier associated with a location of the point of sale10) can be saved in this type of electronic tag,
to determine the absolute or relative position of the purchase assistance device41in the point of sale10.

In certain embodiments, the position of the purchase assistance device41is determined by listening, continuously, periodically or when requested by the processing unit415, for the radio signal broadcast inside the point of sale10.

In certain embodiments, the position of the purchase assistance device41is dated (timestamped) and saved in a buffer memory of predetermined size. The previous positions of the purchase assistance device41in the point of sale10are then available to the processing unit415.

The purchase assistance device41also includes a distance sensor424. This distance sensor424is configured to contactlessly measure a distance between said distance sensor424and an item1, or more generally an object, at least partially within the measurement field of said distance sensor424.

The distance sensor424can be an ultrasound distance measurement sensor or an optical distance measurement sensor such as a laser distance measurement sensor or an infrared distance measurement sensor.

Contactless distance measurement can be based on the principle of triangulation, on the transit time of light or sound (in the case of an ultrasound sensor), for example.

A distance sensor424arranged in the purchase assistance device41to face the opening of the portable basket4when said portable basket4is being carried using the purchase assistance device41enables the height of the content of the portable container4to be monitored. A variation in the height of the content of the portable container4caused by the addition or removal of an item1to/from the portable container4can then be detected by this distance sensor424. In one embodiment, the processing unit415orders the capture of one or more images using predetermined image sensors420after such a variation is detected. These images can indicate a new background to be taken into consideration subsequently when processing the captured images. In another embodiment, if the height of the content of the portable container4changes, the processing unit415checks whether the weight of the portable container4has also changed.

In one embodiment, a first distance sensor424and a second distance sensor424are respectively arranged on two opposing faces of the purchase assistance device41to enable the distance measurements taken by these two distance sensors424to be used to determine a dimension in a given direction (longitudinal, transverse, vertical or any other) of an item1passing through the opening of the portable container4or located at least partially in the respective measurement fields thereof.

In one embodiment, a plurality of sensors arranged in pairs on opposing faces of the purchase assistance device41provides a valuation of the dimensions of an item1in more than one direction.

The measurements taken by the distance sensors424can be used in combination with or in addition to the dimensions determined using the images captured by the image sensors424to determine one or more dimensions (width, length, height) of an item1.

In one embodiment, the detection by the movement sensor418of a movement through the opening of the portable container4triggers the contactless distance measurement by the distance sensor or sensors424.

In another embodiment, the processing unit415controls an image sensor420as a function of one or more distance measurements taken by a distance sensor424. By way of example, the processing unit415commands an image sensor420to zoom out, to zoom in or to point in a given direction as a function of a distance measured by a distance sensor424.

In certain embodiments, the one or more retaining means414advantageously include a contact sensor422. This contact sensor422is used to detect whether or not the purchase assistance device41is mounted on a portable container4, whether the portable container4being carried using the purchase assistance device41is being carried or has been set down, and to notify the processing unit415.

In certain embodiments, the contact sensor422is arranged on the inner face of the retaining means414. In other embodiments, a first contact sensor422and a second contact sensor422are respectively arranged on the lower inner face and the upper inner face of the retaining means414in a ring shape. In this case, the first sensor is used to detect suspension of the portable container4using the purchase assistance device41(the portable container4being in contact with the lower inner face of the retaining means414) while the second sensor422is used to detect the placement of this portable container4on a support or on the ground (where the portable container4comes into contact with the upper inner face of the retaining means414).

In certain embodiments, the processing unit415is advantageously provided with a storage memory423. This storage memory423includes a database, set up in advance, containing information on the list of items1offered for sale at the point of sale10.

The information relating to the items1includes one or more visual models (visual signatures) for each item1. Visual model of an item1means any description, based on descriptors and/or visual properties, distinguishing this item1in a list of items offered for sale at the point of sale10.

More generally, a visual model includes any image data (such as color, texture, contrast, region, contour, geometric shape, dimensions, 3D model, pixels and structure) that can be used to establish a correlation with a captured image and to recognize an item1. By way of example, the visual model of an item1includes a plurality of different images of said item1. In certain embodiments, these images are different views (sides) of the item1.

In certain embodiments, the visual model advantageously includes a deep-learning model or any other model based on a machine-learning method enabling an item1appearing in one or more images to be recognized.

In certain embodiments, more than one visual model is associated with a given item1, these models covering a change in the visual appearance of the item1, for example in the event of a promotional operation.

The information relating to the items1stored in the storage memory423also include metadata relating to each item1, such as weight, position in the point of sale10, universal product code (UPC) (a barcode or a QR code), price, internal reference in the point of sale10, brand name, name, text or any other description of an item1and/or an alphanumeric symbol.

This information is regularly updated to take account of new items1and/or changes to the visual signature (such as new packaging) of an item1already offered for sale. Furthermore, the saved location/position data for the items1in the point of sale10are automatically or manually updated after each restock of the sections2of the point of sale10.

In certain embodiments, the processing unit415also has an image recognition application. Using the information saved in the database, the image recognition application makes it possible to recognize, with a related confidence level, the item1appearing in the images captured by the image sensor or sensors420. In one embodiment, the dimensions of the item1determined using the distance measurements taken by the distance sensors424are used by the image recognition application as an additional datum used to recognize the item1.

To do so, the image recognition application is configured to perform a digital analysis and to extract the pertinent parameters from the image or images captured by the image sensor or sensors420and to compare these parameters (using one of the known image recognition algorithms) to the previously saved information on a reduced list of items1from the list (or set) of items1offered for sale at the point of sale10. Following this comparison, the image recognition application determines whether an item1in this reduced list of items1appears in the captured images, with a related confidence level.

Indeed, the image recognition application makes it possible to extract, in the form of attributes, the visual properties of the captured images (such as color, texture, contrast, contour, geometric shape, dimensions, pixels, regions and structure) that, by comparison with the information previously saved, enable the item1appearing in the captured images to be recognized (image recognition by content).

In one embodiment, the image recognition application uses one or more convolutional neural networks that are able to learn by themselves how to extract pertinent characteristics from the captured image data to recognize an item1appearing in the captured images, using deep learning. In one embodiment, a neural network is allocated to a section, a set of sections or a zone of the point of sale10. This enables the position of the purchase assistance device41in the point of sale10to be used to recognize the item1appearing in the captured images. A neural network can used previously established image databases.

As a variant or in combination, the image recognition application searches the captured images for the visual properties of certain items1(forming a reduced list) selected from the list of items1offered for sale. One or more corrections and/or transformations can be applied in advance to the captured images, such as segmentation in order to distinguish the background, or rotation to reorient an image.

In certain embodiments, volumetric data (sizes and shape or three-dimensional structure) of an item are determined from images captured from one or more image sensors420, such as a 3D camera or a plurality of 2D cameras.

In certain embodiments, image recognition involves comparing a datum taken from the captured image with saved metadata relating to a reduced list of items1from the items1offered for sale. The extracted data can include the universal product code, a text (usually obtained using an optical character recognition (OCR) method), alphanumeric content or a graphical symbol.

In certain embodiments, using the information (visual models and metadata) relating to a reduced list of items1, the image recognition application returns a list of candidate items, respectively, with a confidence level. This list of candidate items can be limited to a predetermined number (for example the three items with the highest confidence levels) or all of the candidate items with a confidence level greater than a predetermined value (such as 90% or 95%). In a variant, the image recognition application only returns the most probable candidate item, i.e. the item with the highest confidence level. If the image recognition application determines that the captured image does not contain any item1from the reduced list of items1used for comparison with a confidence level greater than a predetermined value, an empty list is returned. In other words, none of the items searched was found by the image recognition application in the captured image or images.

If only part of an item1appears in a captured image as a result of occlusion by other objects (hand of the customer3, another item1) or because part of the item1is outside of the field of vision of an image sensor420, the image recognition application uses the information taken from the visible portion and potentially the distance measurements taken by the distance sensors424, and uses a deep-learning model to recognize this item1.

The saved visual model of an item1can be improved by a machine learning method (supervised or otherwise), with or without operator validation. The images taken by the image sensors420under different conditions (lighting, viewing angle, deformation, presence of dust, occlusion, for example) can be used to improve performance of the image recognition application. In this case, the visual model can be updated automatically and in real time, or later once validated by an operator. This helps to improve the capacity to recognize and identify items1in different lighting conditions and with partial or full images of items1taken from different viewing angles.

An item1can be identified using image recognition, preferably with verification of correspondence between its measured weight and the corresponding weight saved in the metadata, without having to search for the related UPC. However, recognition of the UPC of an item1in one or more captured images advantageously increases the confidence level when recognizing said item1.

In certain embodiments, the confidence level with which an item is identified is a combination of a first confidence level linked to recognition of the item using the image and a second confidence level linked to recognition of the item using the weight thereof. The minimum acceptable confidence level can differ between items1or categories of items1, or as a function of the price of the recognized item1. In other words, if the price of the recognized item1is:less than a predetermined amount (for example €10), then this recognition is admitted if obtained with a confidence level greater than 90%,between a first amount and a second amount (for example, between €10 and €50), then this recognition is admitted if obtained with a confidence level greater than 95%,greater than a predetermined amount (for example €50), then this recognition is admitted if obtained with a confidence level greater than 99%,

In certain embodiments, the processing unit415is configured to measure the variation in the weight of the portable container4following detection of any movement by the movement sensor418. To do so, in certain embodiments, the processing unit415calculates a difference between the weight values taken by the weight sensor419just before and just after capture of a movement notified by the movement sensor418. The processing unit415compares this weight difference between candidate items identified by the image recognition application in order to recognize the item1that has just been placed in or removed from the portable container4.

If the weight variation detected by the weight sensor419is positive, an item1is assumed to have just been placed in the portable container4. In the opposite case, an item1is assumed to have just been removed from the portable container4. An updated list of items1in the portable container4is thus kept up to date as the customer3shops in the point of sale10.

In certain embodiments, if the weight variation detected by the weight sensor419is negative (i.e. in the event of removal of an item1from the portable container4), the reduced list of items1used by the image recognition application to recognize an item1appearing in the captured images includes the list of recognized items1in the portable container4before said item was removed.

In certain embodiments, the reduced list of items1used to recognize an item1appearing in the captured images includes the items whose location in the point of sale10is close to the position of the purchase assistance device41.

In certain embodiments, an item1is deemed to be close to the position of the purchase assistance device41if the distance between the location of the item1and the position of the purchase assistance device41is less than a predetermined value.

In another embodiment, an item1is deemed to be close to the position of the purchase assistance device41if the location of said item1and the position of the purchase assistance device41are within the same predefined zone (a section2or any other zone of the point of sale10). This zone can be of any shape, such as circular, square, rectangular, L-shaped or any other geometric shape. The processing unit415is designed to use a geofencing method to detect the zone containing the purchase assistance device41.

In another embodiment, an item1is deemed to be close to the position of the purchase assistance device41if the distance between the location of said item1and a previous position of the purchase assistance device41is less than a predetermined value, or if the location of said item1and a previous position of the purchase assistance device41are in the same predefined zone of the point of sale10(notably if the customer picks up an item, but places said item in the portable container4a few meters further on). In this case, recognition of the item1concerns items arranged in the sections/zones of the point of sale10already passed/visited by the customer3, gradually going back through the movement log of the customer3.

In certain embodiments, a previous position of the purchase assistance device41is a position in which said device remained for at least a predetermined duration (i.e. the time that the customer3paused and picked up an item1). This helps to reduce the list of previous positions of the purchase assistance device41to be taken into consideration.

In certain embodiments, the reduced list of items1comprising items1offered for sale includes the items1associated with a store gondola deemed to be close to the position of the purchase assistance device41. A store gondola is deemed to be close to the purchase assistance device41if the distance separating same is less than a predetermined distance, or if the store gondola and the position of the purchase assistance device41are within the same predefined zone of the point of sale10.

In other embodiments, a store gondola is deemed to be close to the purchase assistance device41if the distance separating same from a previous position of the purchase assistance device41is less than a predetermined distance, or if the store gondola and a previous position of the purchase assistance device41are within the same predefined zone of the point of sale10.

Advantageously, using a reduced list of items1to search for an item1appearing at least partially in the captured images (instead of searching through the full list of items1offered for sale) helps to speed up and facilitate recognition of said item1.

The location of the purchase assistance device41in the point of sale10is in this case used to reduce the search field, in order to streamline and speed up recognition of the item1appearing in the captured images.

In other embodiments, the reduced list of items1used to recognize the item1appearing in the captured images includes the list of items purchased by the customer3in previous purchases (purchase history of the customer3in the point of sale10).

In other embodiments, the reduced list of items1used to recognize the item1appearing in the captured images includes the items1offered for sale whose weight is substantially equal to the weight variation measured by the weight sensor419.

In other embodiments, when a variation in the weights detected by the weight sensor419or in the height of the content of the portable container4measured by the distance sensor424is detected, the processing unit415triggers the capture of one or more images inside the portable container using at least one image sensor420, notably the central image sensor420. In certain embodiments, these images are used as additional verification means to identify an item1placed in/removed from the portable container4, or as a datum (notably representing the background) enabling identification of an item1during a subsequent image recognition step.

The identification of items placed in/removed from the portable container4is used to keep the list of items1deemed to be contained therein up to date. This updated list of items1includes an identity of each item (UPC, internal reference in the point of sale10, brand name, weight, illustrative photo, for example), the corresponding price, the updated total of the (recognized) items1in the portable container4.

This updated list of items1in the portable container4is updated as the customer3fills the basket in the point of sale10. In other words, as each new item1is placed in the portable container4or removed therefrom, said item is identified and the list is updated accordingly.

In certain embodiments, on account of the processing load or battery time, the item is identified by a remote processing server (not shown) connected to the processing unit415over the wireless communication interface417(a Wi-Fi link, for example). This processing server includes the image recognition application and the database (which is identical to or larger than the aforementioned database) of information on the items1offered for sale. For each item1, this information includes a visual model and metadata (weight, price, location in the point of sale10, a description, the UPC, an internal reference, for example).

The processing server makes it possible to use the data collected by the processing unit415from the sensors to identify, with a confidence level greater than a predetermined confidence level, an item that has just been placed in or removed from the portable container4, thereby providing, via the processing unit415and/or via the processing server, an updated list of the items1in (or more precisely deemed to be in) the portable container4of the customer3.

In this case, the processing unit415transfers the data compiled from the sensors to the processing server. In certain embodiments, these data are sent to the processing server following detection of a movement by the movement sensor418. Based on the data supplied by the processing unit415and the database, the processing server identifies, with a confidence level greater than a predetermined value, the item1appearing in one or more of the captured images which it sends, potentially with other information on the item1, to the processing unit415.

In certain embodiments, the processing is shared between the processing unit415and the processing server. For example, the processing server handles image recognition of the item in question, this task requiring relatively more resources than other tasks involved in identifying an item1. In a variant, the processing server is only used if the reduced list of items1includes more than a predetermined number of items1, or only if the processing unit415fails to identify an item1using a reduced database (in which case the server is provided with a larger database).

In certain embodiments, one or more processing servers are shared between several wireless access points distributed throughout the points of sale10belonging to a single brand or otherwise. By way of example, a processing server shared between several points of sale10located in a shopping center or in a duty-free zone.

In other embodiments, the processing server is used when the battery level of the purchase assistance device41is below a given threshold.

The processing server can in turn delegate some or all of the requests from the processing unit415to one or more other servers, with a view to providing a quicker response.

More generally, the item1just placed in or removed from the portable container can be recognized locally using the processing unit415and/or remotely using the processing server.

In certain embodiments, the processing means (i.e. the processing unit415or the processing server) is in wireless communication (or cabled communication, for the processing server) with other servers (not shown) of the IT infrastructure of the point of sale10such as cash registers, the payment system, the customer account server, a push notification server and/or a messaging server.

In other embodiments, the processing unit415includes an identifier used to uniquely identify the purchase assistance device41.

In other embodiments, the purchase assistance device41has one or more card readers (contactless or otherwise) (not shown) connected to the processing unit415. A card reader enables the purchase assistance device41to be associated with a customer identifier read from a card (physical or virtual in the form of a mobile application installed on a user terminal) such as a loyalty card, a subscription card, a payment card or a membership card. A customer identifier can be a card number, a telephone number, a membership number, an email address, full name, date of birth.

The processing unit415is configured to associate the updated list of recognized items1in the portable container4with the customer identifier, with the identifier of the processing unit or with a combination of these two identifiers.

In certain embodiments, the processing unit415has a payment and/or loyalty point management function. Indeed, the updated list of items1in the portable container4enables the customer to pay for these items1using a dedicated mobile application that communicates with this functionality. Following payment, the loyalty points management functionality automatically updates the customer account held by a customer account server.

To operate the electronic components in the purchase assistance device41, this latter has a rechargeable electricity source (notably a rechargeable battery) and a connection to enable recharging (not shown).

The purchase assistance device41advantageously includes indicator lights (multicolor LEDs) to inform the customer3of the operating state of the purchase assistance device41(in operation, customer identifier read successfully, low battery, failed item identification, successful identification of item just placed in/removed from the portable container4, payment validation). As a variation or in combination, the purchase assistance device41includes a display screen that is connected to the processing unit415and configured to provide the customer3, automatically or when requested by the customer using physical or virtual buttons (touchscreen) with information on the purchase assistance session. This information includes, for example, the customer identifier and/or the identifier of the purchase assistance device41, an updated list of the items1in the portable container4, preferably with the detailed total of these items1, the log of items1placed in/removed from the portable container4, full information on the operating state of the purchase assistance device41(photo and/or name of the last item1identified, error message, information on the payment process). In one embodiment, the processing unit415is designed to display, on the display screen, the current position and/or the previous positions of the purchase assistance device41in the point of sale10. In one embodiment, the processing unit415is designed to display, on said display screen, promotional or advertising content retrieved from a remote server. Preferably, this promotional or advertising content is selected as a function of the position of the purchase assistance device41, and/or of the updated list of items1in the portable container4, and/or the information obtained using an identifier of the customer3(purchase history of said customer3in this point of sale10, age or sex of the customer3).

In a variant or in combination, the purchase assistance device41uses the wireless communication interface417to provide information/notifications to a mobile application installed on the mobile terminal of the customer3(updated list of items, electronic till receipt, additional information on a given item, unidentified item warning, request for the customer3to reinsert the last unidentified item, request for the customer to confirm a given item having a confidence level below a predetermined value, for example)

In one use of the purchase assistance device41described above, said device is provided to customers3by the point of sale10on a handle holder6arranged at the entrance to the point of sale10. Preferably, the handle holder6recharges the rechargeable electric power source of the purchase assistance device41held thereby. This handle holder6is therefore also an electrical recharging station.

An example implementation of the purchase assistance method for a customer3is shown by the diagram inFIG. 7.

The customer3picks up the purchase assistance device41and mounts same on a portable container4that belongs to said customer or that is provided by the point of sale10.

In certain embodiments, the detection by the contact sensor422that a portable container4is being carried by the purchase assistance device41(for example in the form of a handle) triggers the opening30of a purchase assistance session. Alternatively, the opening30of a purchase assistance session is triggered by identification of the customer3by the card reader of the purchase assistance device41. The customer card can be a physical card (a loyalty card, a subscription card, a bank card, contactless or otherwise, for example) or a virtual card in the form of a mobile application installed on a mobile terminal that is able to communicate with the card reader and that enables the customer3to be uniquely identified. The customer identifier can comprise one or more data, such as a card number, a membership number, a telephone number, an email address, a date of birth, the issue date of a card, the surname or given name of the customer. In certain embodiments, identification of the customer3enables access to other information, such as the purchase history of said customer3in said point of sale10, and the age and sex of the customer3.

In certain embodiments, a purchase assistance session is opened by the processing unit415if a change above a predetermined value is detected in any of the data previously captured by the sensors and saved by the processing unit415in a buffer memory.

For example, a session is opened upon detection of a change in the location of the purchase assistance device41and/or in the weight of the portable container4, and/or upon detection of a movement by the movement sensor418.

In other embodiments, the purchase assistance session is opened manually by pressing a button provided for this purpose on the purchase assistance device41.

A purchase assistance session identifier is attributed to the session opened. In certain embodiments, this session identifier is obtained by combining the customer identifier with other data, such as a randomly generated code, the date or time of identification, or a code identifying the purchase assistance device41saved permanently by the processing unit415.

Where the purchase assistance device is connected to a processing server, the purchase assistance session is opened with said server. Otherwise, the session is opened locally and handled by the processing unit415.

If the customer3is not identified, the session identifier includes the code identifying the purchase assistance device41alone or combined with any other code.

The purchase assistance session at the point of sale10has a predetermined lifetime. This lifetime can depend on the size of the point of sale10or the number of items offered for sale by the point of sale10. The purchase assistance session is closed once this lifetime has elapsed or if no activity is detected by the sensors arranged in the purchase assistance device41for a predetermined time.

In other embodiments, the purchase assistance session is kept open as along as one or more data are captured by the sensors of the purchase assistance device41(the position sensor421and/or the movement sensor418, for example) and saved by the processing unit415in a buffer memory are changed before expiry of a predetermined idle time. In other words, a purchase assistance session can be closed if the data available to the processing unit415have not changed for a predetermined period of time. In this case, the lifetime of the purchase assistance session is determined dynamically.

The purchase assistance session can also be instructed to close by a remote server (for example the processing server or the payment system following validation of a payment).

In certain embodiments, if the customer has opened the purchase assistance session using a mobile application communicating with the purchase assistance device41, once the purchase assistance session has been opened, the processing unit415exchanges data with this mobile application installed on the mobile terminal of the customer (for example a smart phone, tablet or phablet), automatically or when requested by the customer, such as to (temporarily) link or associate this mobile terminal to the purchase assistance device41, or similarly to associate the customer3with the portable container4(as opposed to all of the other portable containers4in the point of sale10). The customer3can consult the updated list of items in the portable container4, the item prices and the total price of the items at any time on their mobile terminal.

When a purchase assistance session is opened, it is assumed that no items1have yet been placed in the portable container4by the customer3. The measurements taken by the weight sensor419and the distance sensor424are therefore assumed to be the empty weight and the empty height respectively of the content of the portable container4. These measurements are saved in a buffer memory.

In certain embodiments, one or more images of the inside (including the bottom) of the portable container4are captured by the image sensors420at the opening30of the purchase assistance session. These initial image data can subsequently facilitate recognition of the items1placed in/removed from the portable container4. The information included in these initial image data makes it possible to identify the background of the captured images subsequently during the purchase assistance session.

Following opening30of a purchase assistance session and during the purchase assistance step31, the purchase assistance device identifies the items1placed in or removed from the portable container4as the customer3adds items to their basket, in order to provide an updated list of the items in the portable container4.

During the purchase assistance step31, the processing unit415has the following information:the current position (and potentially the previous positions) of the purchase assistance device41in the point of sale10provided by the position sensor421,the weight of the items1in the portable container4measured by the weight sensor419,one or more images once a movement has been detected by the movement sensor418.

As explained above, this information can be used locally by the processing unit415or remotely by the processing server in order to identify, with a given confidence level, an item1that has just been placed in the portable container4or removed therefrom.

Indeed, once a movement is detected by one of the movement sensors418, images are captured by the image sensor or sensors420and the distance measurements are taken by the distance sensors424and together provided to the processing unit415.

An estimate is made of the variation in the weight of the portable container4using the measurements taken by the weight sensor419. If this variation is substantially zero, it is then assumed that no items have just been placed in/removed from the portable container4. In this case, no action is taken.

If a positive variation (i.e. addition of an item1) in the weight of the portable container4is greater than a predetermined value, the position of the purchase assistance device41(and possibly also the previous positions thereof) is used to determine a reduced list of items1from the list of items1offered for sale by the point of sale10. The weight of this item (deemed to be equal to the weight variation) and the captured images are then used by the processing unit415or by the processing server to identify the item in question, with a confidence level.

In the event of a negative variation in the weight of the portable container4, the reduced list of items is the updated list of items in the portable container4kept by the processing unit415(or by the processing server) just before this weight change.

In other embodiments, the reduced list of items1used by the processing means (i.e. unit and/or processing server) to recognize an item1appearing in the captured images is determined as a function of the current position and/or the previous positions (for example, from the time of opening30of the purchase assistance session) of the purchase assistance device41.

In certain embodiments, the reduced list of items1includes the history of purchases made by the customer3in the point of sale10or the items1common to the purchase history and the items1determined as a function of the position (or previous positions) of the purchase assistance device41.

In certain embodiments, if the portable container4is placed on a support or on the ground (this information being obtainable using the data returned by the contact sensor422), the processing unit415maintains, for a predetermined time, the updated list of items recognized in the portable container4and identifies all items placed in/removed from this portable container4, temporarily disregarding the measurements taken by the weight sensor419.

In certain embodiments, if the processing means (i.e. the processing unit415or the processing server) does not recognize any item1with a confidence level above a predetermined threshold, said processing means invite the customer3, by means of a notification displayed on the customer's mobile terminal, to show the last item1inserted or removed more clearly, for example, to the central image sensor420to facilitate identification thereof.

If the item1still cannot be identified with the additional images with a predetermined confidence level, the captured images are saved by the processing server to be processed subsequently by an operator.

During the payment step32, the customer3provides a cash register with a code identifying the purchase assistance device41(by entering said code or showing a barcode or a QR code of the device to a reader of the cash register) and/or a customer identifier (email address, surname, given name, telephone number, for example) that the processing unit415uses to link the purchase assistance device41to this customer3. Using this information, the cash register communicates directly with the processing unit415or with the processing server to retrieve the updated list of items1in the portable container4and to handle the payment process.

In certain embodiments, the purchase assistance device41incorporates a mobile payment function enabling the customer3to pay using their mobile terminal. Proof of purchase is sent to the customer electronically.

Once the purchase transaction has been completed, the purchase assistance session is closed and the purchase assistance device41can be returned to the handle holder6.

In the different embodiments described above, reference is made to a customer. It should however be noted that this purchase assistance device41can also be used by any other person, such as an employee of the point of sale10entrusted with filling a shopping basket on behalf of a customer.

Advantageously, the methods and systems for assisting a purchase described above enable:identification and counting in real time of the items1selected by the customer3for purchase, such as to facilitate the payment process,continuous scanning of the content of the portable container4as the customer3shops,reduced inconvenience to the customer3during the shopping process, the customer's involvement not being overt,reliable scanning of the content of the portable container4, saving time and increasing efficiency for the customer, andan enhanced shopping experience for the customer, reducing the time spent in the point of sale to time that seems useful to the customer, thereby ensuring customer satisfaction, notably in terms of perceived elapsed time.

Although the purchase assistance system is described above with reference to embodiments and variants, the person skilled in the art will understand that these embodiments and variants are not limiting and can be combined with each other and/or with any other equivalent embodiment.