System and method of encoding item information from a scale in a self-service scanning solution

This invention relates to a system including a scale that weighs an item placed on the scale and encodes the weight and/or other item information into a machine readable code. The system may include a display that is coupled to the scale and displays the machine readable code. The scale may encode the item in Quick Response (QR) code format, Universal Product Code (UPC) format, and/or other computer-readable format. A mobile device may take a picture of or otherwise scan the machine readable code to determine the weight and/or other information encoded therein. The system may include a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits the weight. The mobile device may include a wireless receiver that wirelessly receives the weight transmitted from the scale. The mobile device may execute a self-scan application that uses the de-encoded or otherwise obtained weight for pricing the item based on the weight or other purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an enhanced bulk item mobile point of purchase solution for use in grocery and other retail applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Smartphones are affecting every facet of the shopping experience, from getting people in the door, to helping them compare prices, and how they interact with other shoppers and their social network throughout the sale. Mobile shopping is breaking down the walls of traditional brick-and-mortar stores by giving shoppers the ability to easily find a cheaper price in a store down the street. Smart phone applications, such as Google Shopper, RedLaser and TheFind, allow shoppers to look up a product by scanning it or typing in the bar code.

However, bar codes are mostly used with manufactured goods or items that are packed and shelved for customers. Bar codes are useful with produce, agricultural goods, bulk goods, or similar items but cannot fully encode an item plus a weight since the weight of a bulk item is variable depending on a quantity purchased at the time of sale. Items that are loosely available are subject to being purchased in different quantities (weight or volume), making it difficult to pre-code them. For example, different shoppers may have desire different quantities of vegetables, making it difficult to encode the weight into a barcode or other machine readable code. Shoppers often weigh the picked loose items at an in-store scale to determine its price based on weight.

Thus, there exists a requirement for a system and method for a solution enabling the shopper to identify the item on their phone and then read the scale weight via a digital UPC/QR code of the weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention addressing these and other drawbacks relates to systems and methods of encoding item information from a scale in a self-service scanning solution. The system may comprise a scale and a display. The scale may be configured to weigh an item placed on the scale and encode a code related to the item that represents at least the weight of the item. The display may be coupled to the scale and configured to display the code related to the item.

In some implementations, the system may further comprise a mobile device configured to scan the display. The item that is weighed by the scale may include a produce or other bulk weighed items. In some implementations, the scale may be configured to encode the item in Quick Response (QR) code format, Universal Product Code (UPC) format, and/or other encoding that is machine readable. In some implementations, the display may be configured to display the code alphanumerically (e.g., in human-readable form). In some implementations, the scale may be configured to encode the item concurrently in one or more of a QR code, a UPC code, an alphanumeric code, and/or other format. Concurrent display of multiple types of codes enables built-in error correction to prevent bad decodes by camera barcode scanners. In some implementations, the system may further comprise a camera (separate from the camera barcode scanner) and an image processor. The camera may be configured to capture an image of the item. The image processor may be configured to encode the item based on the image of the item.

A method may comprise receiving an input weight of an item that is placed on a scale. The method may further comprise encoding the item placed on the scale, wherein the code comprises at least the weight of the item, and displaying the code. In some implementations, the method includes displaying the code in a format that may be scanned by a mobile application executing on a mobile device such as a smartphone. The method may include encoding the code in a Quick Response (QR) format, a Universal Product Code (UPC) format, and/or other encoding that is machine readable.

These and other systems, methods, objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the drawings.

All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. References to items in the singular should be understood to include items in the plural, and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of conjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1illustrates a system102for assigning codes to an item in a format compatible with a mobile device.

In some implementations, system102may include a scale104and a display108. The scale104may be configured to weigh an item110placed on the scale104. The scale104may be configured to encode at least the weight of the item110into a code112. The scale104may include a coding facility128which may be used to generate the code112. The display108may be coupled to the scale104, and may be configured to display the code112of the item110. The item110may include an item that may be purchased in different quantities by weight, volume, or unit number that is generally not pre-packaged such that the user may purchase a variable quantity of the item. For example, the item110may include an agricultural commodity such as produce, a bulk weighed item, a loosely available item, and/or other items that may be purchased in different quantities that is generally not pre-packaged.

The scale104may be coupled to the display108by any conventional electronic means. For example, the scale104may be connected to the display108by any conventional wired or wireless means. In some implementations, the display108may be in electrical communication with the scale104, such as with a serial cable or wirelessly through a wireless communication protocol. The display108may be placed in a vicinity of the scale104, such as on a stand, although other configurations may be used as well. The scale104may be configured to encode the weight of the item110into the code112such that the code112is in a format compatible to a software application embedded into a mobile device118. Mobile device118may include an imaging device (not illustrated in the Figures) such as a camera or optical scanner that is able to take an image of code112. The software application embedded into the mobile device118may be configured to recognize and decode the code112based on the image of the code to retrieve information encoded therein.

In some implementations, the code112displayed on the display108may be scanned by the mobile device118such that the code112may be decoded by the mobile device118. In some implementations, the mobile device118may be a Smartphone, mobile shopping device, a mobile computer tablet or any other portable computer.

In some implementations, the scale104may receive or otherwise have access to information about the item110being weighed such as, for example, a number of units, volume, item name, unit price, date of manufacture, date of expiration, date of packaging, geographical location of harvesting in case of produce, taxonomic information, medical uses, other uses, recipes, and/or other information known about the item. The scale104may receive or access the information and/or an identity of the item110from mobile device118, a scanned barcode affixed to the item110that encodes the information and is scanned at the scale104, a manual input at the scale104, and/or other source that can convey the information to scale104. In some implementations, the scale104may communicate an identity of the item110to a remote device101(such as an in-store computer that maintains inventory and item information) and receive the information from the remote device101. In some implementations, the scale104may encode into code112the information about item110. The information about the item110encoded into the code112may include at least the weight of the item110.

In some implementations, the scale104may be configured to generate the code112so that the code112may contain error correction and mask patterns. The error correction and the mask patterns may hold various levels of information thereby making the code112product specific. In some implementations, the code112may encode mask patterns and error correction so as to enable a specific level of service for a specific mobile device. For example, if a user subscribes for a service that may provide taxonomic data and medical uses of the item110placed on the scale104, only then would the mobile device be able to decode the code112due to presence of certain specific mask patterns. The code112may be generated in a quick response (QR) Code format, a UPC format, and/or other format. In some implementations, the code112may be generated in accordance with various international standards including UPC-A to UPC-E standard, ISO (International Standards Organization) standard.

In some implementations, the scale104may be configured to encode only the weight of the item110into the code112and the item name may be added by the user onto the scale104or onto the mobile device118. The scale104may encode the weight of the item110irrespective of product name of the item110so that the user may input or select the product name on the mobile device118for further processing. In some implementations, the code112may encode information related to only the weight of the item110and any further information may be retrieved from the mobile device118responsive to input of a product name or other identification of the item110. The code112containing the weight may then be amalgamated with the information retrieved such that the cost of the item110may be calculated. In an example, a user purchasing bananas may place the bananas on the scale104to be weighed. The scale104may determine the weight of the bananas, generate a QR code that encodes the determined weight, and cause the QR code to be displayed on a display associated with the scale104(e.g., display108). In this example, the user may first indicate in the application that they are purchasing bananas and the application may request the weight. The user may then scan the QR code that is displayed by the display108using a smartphone running the scan-and-bag (e.g., a self-service scanning) application to obtain the weight information.

In another version of this example, the user indicates on the scale that bananas are being weighed and the code is generated with both item and weight information. In yet another version of this example, if the bananas are sold on a per unit basis instead of weight basis, the scale104may simply be used as a processor for generating code information. In this version of the example, the user may simply input item and number of item information and the code112may be generated with this information.

In some implementations, the scale104may be configured to communicate the weight and/or other information known about the item110to mobile device118using wired or wireless communication channels. In this implementation, the weight and/or other information may be communicated using a machine readable format, a human readable format, and/or other format that can be communicated using wired or wireless communication channels. For example, the scale104may wirelessly transmit the weight and/or other information known about the item110to mobile device118.

In some implementations, the scale104may be configured to communicate the weight and/or other information known about the item110via one or more print instructions. For example, the scale104may communicate the print instructions to a printer that prints the weight and/or other information on a print medium such as paper.

In any event, the code112may further contain pricing information. For example, an in-store server may be queried for the price when the item is input to the scale or recognized using the integrated camera and associated software. The code112may also contain further information obtained from the in-store server, such as date of manufacture, date of expiration, date of packaging, geographical location of harvesting in case of produce, taxonomic information, medical uses, other uses, recipes, or a combination thereof.

In some implementations, the scale104may be configured to encode the information so that the code112can be interpreted by a scan-and-bag application that retrieves pricing information, coupons, discounts, and the like when the code112is scanned and the item is added to an inventory of items for purchase. When the code112is scanned, any of the information encoded may be displayed, such as weight, number of units, volume, item name, unit price, date of manufacture, date of expiration, date of packaging, geographical location of harvesting in case of produce, taxonomic information, medical uses, other uses, recipes, or a combination thereof.

In some implementations, the information such as coupon information, discount code, price information, or any allied information that may directly or indirectly affect the price of the item110may be encoded in the code112. For example, real-time or pre-targeted offers may be applied automatically to the item when the code is generated. The price and related information may be communicated to the purchaser of the item when the purchaser may scan the code on the display108with the mobile device118and the software application embedded in the mobile device118can decode the code112to calculate at least the cost of the item110accordingly. In some implementations, the scale104may be configured to encode various details about the item110into the code112that can be retrieved by the software application embedded in the mobile device118.

The code can be generated as a QR code. UPC code, alphanumeric code, or the like in an application-specific, hardware-specific, or user-specific manner. In some implementations, a shopper shopping with mobile device118configured as a handheld shopping device, such as the MC17 Retail Mobile Computer (Motorola; Schaumburg, Ill.), may request that the code be generated as a UPC symbol for scanning. In some implementations, a shopper shopping with mobile device118configured as a smartphone and a scan-and-bag application, such as Modiv Shopper (Modiv Media; Quincy, Mass.) may request that the code be generated as a QR code to be imaged by the phone.

In some implementations, the system102may include a camera120and an image processor122. The camera120may be configured to capture an image124of the item110. The image processor122may be configured to encode the item110based on the image214of the item110. In some implementations, the image processor122may be configured to convert the image124into a format compatible with the coding facility128of the scale104. The camera120may image the products on the scale to generate item and/or number of item information. The camera120may transmit the image to an in-store server to query a database130, which may include a plurality of images of different items, using the image. Alternatively, the image may be transmitted to the server, which may run an object recognition application to interpret the image and return the item name.

In some implementations, the system102may include a configurable setting that determines which format to use. For example, scale104may switch between using a QR, a UPC, and/or other format based on the configurable setting. In some implementations, the scale104displays the item weight in human readable format regardless of which setting is used.

In operation, the mobile device118may be programmed with/execute a self-scan application (or “scan-and-bag” application) that generates a listing of scanned items. The self-scan application allows a shopper to scan items using the mobile device118. The self-scan application may receive an identification of the item110. The shopper may then place the item110onto the scale104. The scale104may weigh the item110and communicate at least the weight of the item. The weight may be communicated by encoding at least the weight into a machine readable code. The scale104may display or print the machine readable code and the mobile device118may scan the display or printed medium and decode the machine readable code to obtain at least the weight of the item110. The scale104may communicate at least the weight via a wired or wireless communication channel. Whichever method is used to communicate at least the weight from the scale104to the mobile device118, the mobile device118may add the identification of the item and at least the weight to the list of scanned items.

FIG. 2illustrates a display202of the system102, according to an aspect of the invention. The display202illustrated inFIG. 2may be electronically connected to the scale104.

In some implementations, the scale104may be configured to communicate the information in a human readable format. For example, the scale104may display an alphanumeric code204via the display202. In some implementations, the alphanumeric code204may be displayed along with an image of the code112. The figure represents a QR code format, however, in aspects of the invention, any other code format may be used. Other code formats may include Universal Product Code (UPC), SnapTag, SPARQCode, Touchatag, Aztec Code, MaxiCode, Semacode and the like.

In some implementations, the code112may be encoded to contain an embellished pattern208. The embellished pattern208may mark the code112to be generated at a specific location or brand. In some implementations, the embellished pattern208may mark the code112to be used for a specific purpose such as for aesthetics or for any other purpose.

In some implementations, the display202may include a screen210that displays analog or digital formats. Screen210may include an electronic-ink device (e.g., to facilitate machine-reading of the display108by laser scanners), a liquid crystal display device, and/or other type of conventional display device that can display the code112and/or other information. In some implementations, the display202may be configured to display the image124via the screen210.

In some implementations, system102may be configured to communicate a promotional message such as an advertisement, offer, coupon, and/or other message intended to incent the customer to make a purchase. For example, the scale104may display the promotional message via display202. The scale104may receive and store a general promotional message that may include items that are not targeted. The scale104may receive and store a specific promotional message. For example and without limitation, a specific promotional message may be one that promotes an item that is related to an item being weighed (if an identity of the item being weighed is known), an item that is in the same department or nearby where the scale104is located, and/or an item targeted for a shopper weighing an item at the scale (if an identity of the shopper is known).

FIG. 3illustrates a method302for assigning a code to an item in a format compatible with a software application embedded in a mobile shopping device.FIG. 3is explained in conjunction withFIGS. 1 and 2.

The method302may include the scale104to receive the input weight of the item110. The method302may include the item110being placed on the scale104such that the code112comprises at least the weight of the item110. The scale104may be configured to generate an image of the item110using the integrated camera202and an object recognition facility to recognize the item and match it to an item name in a database. In an some implementations, the scale may require the user to input the name information about the item110into the scale. In some implementations, the scale104may encode the weight of the item110irrespective of the name of the item110so that the user may input or select the name of the item110on the mobile device118for further processing.

In some implementations, the method302may include displaying the code generated as described above. In some implementations, the code112may be displayed using the display108and/or the display202.

Described herein is a system and a method for providing bar codes to commodities that are not pre-packaged at the manufacturing site and in cases where weight of the commodity in question varies based on user requirement and choice.

The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open transition). The term “coupled” or “operatively coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and mechanically.