Abstract:
A method, system and computer program product for providing access to government benefits is disclosed. The method comprises positioning a short-range transmitter in a predetermined product area in a store, and storing one or more marketing messages in the short-range transmitter, wherein the one or more marketing messages are associated with one or more specific products located in the predetermined product area. The one or more marketing messages are transmitted to a wireless computer, and a user is identified as a participant in a government benefits scheme. Available under a subsidy program are communicated to a user and upon purchase of an item, an analysis of benefits available under a subsidy program is provided.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/026,781, filed on Dec. 30, 2004, entitled “Integration of WIC Items and Transactions into Personal Shopping Devices”. Applicants claim benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/026,781, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates in general to the field of computers, and in particular to wireless computers receiving signals from short-range transmitting devices. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for providing access to government benefits by locating, detecting, prompting purchase of, and monitoring eligible Women, Infants, and Children (“WIC”) items in a store. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The United States Department of Agriculture administers a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, commonly referred to as “WIC”. The WIC program targets the low-income, nutritionally at risk population. In particular, the WIC program may assist pregnant women, infants up to their first birthday and children up to their fifth birthday. The WIC program provides many benefits to such women, infants and children, such as supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics and screening and referrals to other health, welfare and social services. The WIC program currently serves approximately 3.82 million children, 1.95 million infants and 1.86 million women at a cost of approximately 4.7 billion dollars. 
     Currently, WIC participants may receive checks or vouchers to purchase specific foods each month that are designed to supplement their diets. The foods provided are high in one or more of the following nutrients: protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A and C. These are the nutrients frequently lacking in the diets of the program&#39;s target population. Different food packages are provided for different categories of participants. 
     The WIC foods in a food package that are available to be purchased by a particular WIC participant may not be easily identified in a grocery store. Some of these WIC items may be identified, such as by a sticker with the label “WIC authorized”. However, these stickers may not be self-evident. For example, the WIC eligible items, along with their WIC eligible labels, may be stocked in high or low positions on a shelf and hence may not be easily identified. Furthermore, not all of the WIC eligible items may be marked. 
     After the WIC participant placed the eligible WIC items that could be located in the grocery cart, the WIC participant may hand the cashier a paper voucher to purchase the items. There are various problems with using paper vouchers to purchase WIC items. For example, the cashier may assume incorrectly that the items purchased with the voucher were all eligible WIC items. Furthermore, using the paper voucher to purchase WIC items may result in long waits by retailers for reimbursement. Furthermore, the WIC participant may be uncomfortable to hand the cashier a WIC paper voucher due to the stigma associated with receiving food for free from a government program. Finally, users have traditionally experienced confusion in tracking the most efficient use of their benefits from a price-benefit perspective. Additionally, conventional solutions lead to voided transactions (e.g. for lack of funds or benefits), because the user has limited ability to predict total real prices before a transaction is complete. 
     Consequently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2002 promulgated a program, referred to as the Electronic Benefits Transfer (“EBT”) program, designed to replace the time-consuming and error-prone paper voucher system that was costly to administer, often uncomfortable for participants to use, and could result in long waits by retailers for reimbursement. Pilot programs for implementing the EBT program are now occurring across the country. 
     However, there are no currently available mobile shopping user interface systems that implement the WIC-EBT standard in a manner that is adequate for assisting the WIC participant in locating their WIC eligible items in the store and completing the purchase most beneficial to the participant. 
     This is especially true at the actual time of the purchase, such as in a grocery store or similar retail establishment. The prior art is inadequate to target the WIC-buying audience and facilitate their transactions. What is needed is a system, method and computer program product for providing access to government benefits by locating, detecting, prompting purchase of, and monitoring eligible Women, Infants, and Children (“WIC”) items in a store. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method, system and computer program product for providing access to government benefits is disclosed. The method comprises positioning a short-range transmitter in a predetermined product area in a store, and storing one or more marketing messages in the short-range transmitter, wherein the one or more marketing messages are associated with one or more specific products located in the predetermined product area. The one or more marketing messages are transmitted to a wireless computer, and a user is identified as a participant in a government benefits scheme. Benefits available under a subsidy program are communicated to a user and upon purchase of an item, an analysis of benefits available under a subsidy program is provided. 
     The above, as well as additional purposes, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed descriptions of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary computer system in which the present invention can be implemented, either as a wireless device for receiving a marketing message, a transmitter/receiver for communicating with the wireless device, and/or as a server that exchanges data with the wireless device via the transmitter/receiver; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict an exemplary environment in which the wireless device is mounted to a shopping cart in a store; 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary store plan layout in which the present invention may be implemented; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a graphical user interface that correlates items that have been previously selected by a shopper with associated costs and available government benefits; 
         FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI) on the wireless device offering a price comparison based on available benefits to the shopper; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI) on the wireless device offering an inventory of available benefits to the shopper; 
         FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI) on the wireless device for tracking an inventory of benefits currently being used by the shopper; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of steps taken in a preferred embodiment of the present invention to transmitted information on available benefits to a wireless unit; 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart of steps taken in a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide government benefits and behavior modification during a shopping session; 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart of steps taken in a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide government benefits using a best-price function during a shopping session; and 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart of steps taken in a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide government benefits using an out-of-pocket cost function during a shopping session. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Although the present invention is described with reference to the WIC program, as described above, it is noted that the principles of the present invention may be applied to any government benefit service program or other nongovernmental benefit programs. It is further noted that embodiments applying the principles of the present invention to other government benefit service programs and nongovernmental benefit programs would fall within the scope of the present invention. While the present invention is described with respect to a portable personal shopping device, one skilled in the art will realize that the invention may also be practiced with respect to fixed point of sale equipment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted a block diagram of an exemplary data processing system in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be implemented. Data processing system  100  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  102 , which is connected to a system bus  108 . In the exemplary embodiment, data processing system  100  includes a graphics adapter  104  also connected to system bus  108 , for providing user interface information to a display  106 . 
     Also connected to system bus  108  are a system memory  110  and an input/output (I/O) bus bridge  112 . I/O bus bridge  112  couples an I/O bus  114  to system bus  108 , relaying and/or transforming data transactions from one bus to the other. Peripheral devices such as nonvolatile storage  116 , which may be a hard disk drive, and input device  118 , which may include a conventional mouse, a trackball, or the like, as well as a bar code or similar reader or a card reader or other similar device, is connected to I/O bus  114 . Data processing system  100  will perform the method of the present invention using software, stored in memory system  110  and executed on CPU  102 . The construction and use of software structures is well understood by those skilled in the relevant arts. 
     Data processing system  100  also includes a wireless interface  120 . Wireless interface  120  is an interface that permits data processing system  100  to wirelessly communicate, preferably via a line-of-sight carrier signal such as a low-power infrared (IR) wave, with another data processing system, such as a short-range transmitter/receiver system  122 , which also communicates with a server  124 . Note that in a preferred embodiment, all communication is tuned down to a low-power level IR, such that there is only line-of-sight communication, such that no wireless communication occurs from reflected or other “bleed over” signals. 
     Short-range transmitter/receiver  122  may also include an IDentification Signal Receiver (IDSR)  126 . IDSR  126  is a logic (hardware and/or software) that receives and processes an identification signal from a wireless computer such as a Personal Shopping Device (PSD). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the features shown for data processing system  100  are used by the PSD, while the short-range transmitter/receiver  122  uses all features shown for data processing system  100  except for the graphics adapter  104  and display  106 , and the server  124  has all features shown for data processing system  100  except for the short-range wireless interface, since server  124  and short-range transmitter/receiver  122  preferably are able to communicate across long distances. 
     The exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  is provided solely for the purposes of explaining the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous variations are possible, both in form and function. For instance, data processing system  100  might also include a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or digital versatile disk (DVD) drive, a sound card and audio speakers, and numerous other optional components. All such variations are believed to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2A-2B , an exemplary use of data processing system  100  is shown. Data processing system  100  is depicted as a Personal Shopping Device (PSD)  202 , which is attached to a shopping cart  204 , preferably in a manner that is semi-fixed (i.e., requiring tools to remove PSD  202  from shopping cart  204 , in order to prevent the theft of PSD  202 ). As seen in the top view of  FIG. 2B , PSD  202  has an active viewing screen  206 , which displays a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for displaying data, as well as for receiving inputs (preferably via a touch-screen capability) into PSD  202 . 
     An exemplary use of PSD  202  may be in a retail establishment. As a shopper places items into shopping cart  204 , the shopper scans the product using a bar code reader/magnetic card/smartcard reader module  208 , which reads a Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code from a product selected by the shopper and records the product in PSD  202 . Bar code reader/magnetic card/smartcard reader module  208  is also capable of reading a magnetic identification card for the purpose of identifying a user as a recipient of government benefits. In addition to bar code, magnetic cards, and smartcards, some embodiments of bar code reader/magnetic card/smartcard reader module  208  may be configured to read other forms of non-volatile memory devices, such as compact flash, memory keys, or memory sticks. The PSD  202  stores all items that have been scanned and placed in the shopping cart  204  into a list. When the customer checks out, the checker simply downloads the list (with prices) to conclude a shopping transaction. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated an exemplary environment in which the present invention may be utilized. Store plan  300  depicts an arrangement of a retail store having multiple predetermined product areas  308 . Within each product area  308  is a short-range transmitter/receiver  122 . Each short-range transmitter/receiver  122  preferably uses a low-power infrared (IR) carrier signal, such that communication with a short-range transmitter/receiver  122  is only available within the associated pre-determined product area  308  via line-of-sight, and not via reflected or other bleed-over signals. For exemplary purposes, note that store plan  300  may include a meat section  302 , a dairy section  304 , and a produce section  306 , each section also being a pre-determined product area having a short-range transmitter/receiver  122 . Each short-range transceiver  122  communicates with server  124  to retrieve shopping information and government benefits information in the form of marketing messages related to products available both throughout the store and in the vicinity of the short-range transceiver. 
     While the invention is explained with respect to an infrastructure involving short-range transmitter devices as depicted in  FIG. 3 , one skilled in the art will quickly realize that the invention is capable of being practiced in different communication environments, some as simple as being based on the scanning of an item, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that correlates items that have been previously selected by a shopper with associated costs and available government benefits is illustrated.  FIG. 4  illustrates an all items inventory view  400  of items purchased by a user of the personal shopping device  202  without regard to whether they have been purchased using a government benefit scheme or out-of-pocket with cash. All items inventory view  400  includes for each of several items a selected item column  402 , which lists the item under consideration. Category and subcategory column  404  lists the WIC eligibility category of the selected item or its ineligible status. Base price column  406  provides a base or ‘shelf price’ for the selected item without government benefits, but including any applicable loyalty discounts or coupons, as well as a unit of measure and quantity. 
     WIC cost column  408 , for WIC eligible items, lists the price after any applicable WIC discount. Out-of-pocket (OOP) cost item column  410 , for items that are WIC ineligible or that the user has selected to purchase without using government benefits, lists the cost that a user will pay out of pocket. A user can choose to purchase a WIC eligible item without WIC benefits by touching a WIC removal button  412 , which provides a user with the option to claim or refuse to claim a benefit with respect to an individual item, or can choose to transfer an item purchased out-of-pocket back to a WIC purchase by actuating WIC reinstatement button  414 . The presence of the WIC removal button  412  and WIC reinstatement button  414  allows a user to eliminate transactions for which he lacks appropriate cash or benefits without the embarrassment of having to do so at the end of a transaction. 
     Where a more favorable price (with or without benefits) on a similar WIC category items is available, better price button  416  is made available in all items inventory view  400 . All items inventory view  400  additionally includes a totals line  418  with a total for WIC cost column  408  and a total for out-of-pocket cost column  410  for the inventory of items purchased. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI) on the wireless device offering a price comparison based on benefits available to the shopper is depicted. The depicted graphical user interface includes a price comparison view  500 , which would be activated by actuating better price button  416 . Price comparison view  500  is a means for providing behavior modification instructions to a user. 
     Price comparison view  500  includes an address line  502  for identifying a user, an item line  504  for identifying the item subject to price comparison, a notice line  506  for informing the user that a lower effective price is available through the WIC program on the same item or a comparable item, a price comparison box  508  for comparing the various prices available and a skip message box  510 . Alternatively, notice line  506  could be used to provide a nutritional comparison or instruction message. Within price comparison box  508 , several different items of a particular category are listed. 
     For the example shown with respect to  FIG. 5 , the item subject to price comparison is milk. Items that will be listed in price comparison box  508  will be milk or comparable items (such as soy milk). For each item that is listed in the price comparison, an item description column  512 , which provides the identity of the listed item, is displayed. Similarly price column  514 , displays a base of an item price before application of benefits. Per unit price column  516 , which displays a price per unit, and a benefits applied price column  518 , which displays a price per unit after application of WIC benefits are displayed. Additionally, a best price indicator  520  is displayed for demonstrating to the user what the best available pricing is. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI) on a wireless device offering an inventory of benefits available to the shopper is displayed. Currently available benefits view  600  illustrates the benefits available to a user storewide. For each available item, an item description  602  identifies the item on which benefits are available. A category, subcategory and benefits expiration date column  604  provides the WIC categorization of the item and the expiration date for the available benefit. A unit of measure, quantity and cost column  606  is displayed, with relevant quantitative data. For items that are subject to competitive pricing, a better price button  416  is also displayed. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI) on the wireless device for tracking an inventory of benefits currently being used by the shopper is displayed. The WIC items inventory view  700 , contains an item description column  702  for each item, which includes identification data for the item. Category and subcategory column  704  provides WIC classification data, and a unit quantity of measure and cost column  706  provides the relevant quantitative data. Better price button  416  is also displayed for items subject to price comparison. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 8 , a flow chart of steps taken in a preferred embodiment of the present invention to transmit information on available benefits to a wireless unit is depicted. The process starts at step  802 , which will typically correspond to activation of short range transmitter/receiver  122 . The process then moves to step  804 , which depicts short range transmitter/receiver  122  broadcasting random marketing messages until a user ID or WIC ID request is detected. The process then moves to step  806 , which illustrates server  124  determining if a valid user ID is detected. If a valid user ID is not detected, then the process returns to step  804 , which is described above. 
     If server  124  determines that a valid user ID is detected, then the process next moves to step  808 . At step  808 , server  124  determines if the user ID detected at step  806  is WIC eligible. If, at step  808 , server  124  determines that the user ID detected in  806  is WIC eligible, then the process next moves to step  810 . At step  810 , short range transmitter/receiver receives an eligible products list from server  124  containing marketing messages regarding products and benefits available to the user ID detected in step  806 , and those marketing messages are stored on short range transmitter/receiver  122  and transmitted to personal shopping device  202 . The process then ends at step  812 . 
     Returning to step  808 , if it is determined that the user is not WIC eligible, then the process next moves to step  814 , which depicts short range transmitter/receiver  122 , sending standard marketing messages, not containing benefit information to personal shopping device  202  and conducting a normal shopping session, the process then ends at step  812 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 9 , a flow chart of steps taken in a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide government benefits and behavior modification during a shopping session is illustrated. The process starts at step  902 , which will typically correspond to activation of a personal shopping device. The process next moves to step  904 , which depicts personal shopping device  202 , receiving a user ID through input device  118 . A user ID can be received by input device  118 , either by scanning a card through bar code reader/magnetic card/smartcard reader module  202 , or through tactile input through a keyboard device, or through other methods, such as an RFID card. 
     The process next moves to step  906 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  determining if a user is WIC eligible. If personal shopping device  202  determines that a user is not WIC eligible, then the process ends at step  908 . The end of the process at step  908  will typically lead to a user engaging in shopping through other processes not involving government benefits. If personal shopping device  202  determines that the user is WIC eligible, the process next moves to step  910 . Step  910  illustrates personal shopping device utilizing short range wireless interface  120  to communicate with short range transmitter/receiver  122  and fetch an eligible products list. The process then moves to step  912 , which depicts personal shopping device  202 , preparing and displaying an eligible products list, such as current available benefits view  600 . 
     The process next proceeds to step  914 . At step  914 , personal shopping device  202  determines whether a product has been purchased. If a product has not been purchased, then the process next proceeds to step  916 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  entering a waiting state. The process then returns to step  914 . If, by contrast, if personal shopping device  202  determines that a product has been purchased at step  914 , the process next proceeds to step  918 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  determining if the product purchased at step  914  is WIC eligible. If the selected product is not WIC-eligible, the process returns to step  916 . If the selected product is WIC-eligible, the process next moves to step  920 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  updating and displaying WIC items inventory view  700 , which is one form of an inventory of benefit items. The process then moves to step  922 . At step  922 , personal shopping device  202  calculates the best available WIC price. 
     The process next proceeds to step  924 , which depicts personal shopping device  924  determining if a lower effective price is available. If no better price is available, then the process moves to step  928 , which is discussed below. If a better price is available, then the process moves to step  926 . At step  926 , personal shopping device  202  offers and possibly displays a best prices menu, which can take the form of displaying a better price button  416  in WIC items inventory view  700 , current available benefits view  600 , or all items inventory view  400  and waiting for a user to then actuate better price button  416  to display price comparison view  500 . Alternatively, price comparison view  500  may be displayed directly without resorting to any of WIC items inventory view  700 , current available benefits view  600 , or all items inventory view  400 . 
     The process then moves to step  928 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  determining whether the user intends to modify behavior by reading response to best price view  500 . If no behavior modification is indicated, then the process next moves to step  910  which is described above. If behavior modification is indicated, then the process next moves to step  930 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  updating its data based on new purchase. The process then moves to step  932 , which depicts personal shopping device determining whether the user is ready to checkout. If the user is not ready to checkout, then the process returns to step  910 , which is described above. If the user is ready to checkout, then the process moves to step  934 . At step  934 , personal shopping device  202  provides checkout services. The process then ends at step  908 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a flow chart of steps taken in a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide government benefits using a best-price function during a shopping session is depicted. The process starts at step  1000 . The process then moves to step  1002 . At step  1002 , a customer signs on to a personal shopping device  202 . The process then moves to step  1004 , which depicts a customer scanning a discount card or loyalty card through bar code reader/magnetic card/smartcard reader module  208 . The process next proceeds to step  1006 , which depicts a customer entering a WIC ID through an input device  118  such as bar code reader/magnetic card/smartcard reader module  208 . The process then moves to step  1008 . At step  1008 , customer WIC benefit data is transferred to personal shopping device  202  from server  124  through short range transmitter  122 . The process next moves to step  1010 , at which a customer scans in all manufacture coupons. 
     The process next proceeds to step  1012 , at which a customer scans an item for purchase, and then proceeds to step  1014 . At step  1014 , personal shopping device  202  performs an item price query. The process then moves to step  1016 , which begins business logic process  1052 , containing steps  1016 - 1034 . Step  1016  depicts personal shopping device determining if the purchased item is covered under a store promotion or loyalty card program. If the product is not covered under a store promotion or a loyalty card program, then the process moves to step  1018 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  determining if the product matches a manufacturer coupon. If the selected product does not match a manufacturer coupon, then the process moves to step  1022 . Step  1022  depicts personal shopping device  202  applying any remaining store discounts. 
     Returning to step  1016 , if the item purchased is subject to a store promotion or loyalty card then the process next moves to step  1026 , which depicts personal shopping device reducing the base price of the selected item by a discount amount. The process next moves to step  1028 . At step  1028 , personal shopping device  202  applies a store coupon for the difference between the original price and the discount price. The process then returns to step  1018 . At step  1018 , as described above, personal shopping device  202  determines whether a manufacturer coupon matches the selected item. If a manufacturer coupon matches the selected item, then the process moves to step  1030 . At step  1030 , personal shopping device reduces the modified item price by the coupon amount. The process then moves to step  1020 . At step  1020 , personal shopping device  202  determines if the coupon is configured for multiplication. If the coupon is configured for multiplication, then the process moves to step  1032 . At step  1032 , personal shopping device  202  applies an applicable multiple factor such as double coupons or triple coupons. The process then moves to step  1034 . At step  1034 , the personal shopping device  202  reduces the price by any applicable amount of discounts. The process then moves to step  1022 , which is described above. 
     After step  1022 , the process then moves to step  1036 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  determining if the item is WIC eligible. If the item is not WIC eligible, then the process moves to step  1038  which depicts personal shopping device  202  adding the item, with its effective price, to a sales transaction. The process then moves to step  1048 . At step  1048 , the personal shopping device  202  determines whether a last item or checkout has been detected. If a last item or checkout has not been detected, then the process moves to step  1050 , which depicts performing checkout service. The process then ends at step  1052 . If a last item or checkout has not been detected, then the process returns to step  1012 , which is described above. 
     Returning to step  1036 , if an item is WIC eligible, then the process moves to step  1040 . At step  1040 , a WIC benefit is calculated by personal shopping device for the item. The process then moves to step  1042 . At step  1042 , personal shopping device presents the price after application of the WIC benefit and the modified price from business process logic  1052  to the customer in price comparison view  500  on display  106  of personal shopping device  202 . The process next moves to step  1044 , which depicts price comparison view  500  optionally indicating a recommended price or best price and providing a reason for that advice. The process next moves to step  1046 , at which user selects the item with the best effective price from price comparison view  500  through interaction with personal shopping device  202 . The process then moves to step  1038 , which is described above. 
       FIG. 11  is a flow chart of steps taken in a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide government benefits using an out-of-pocket cost function during a shopping session. The process starts at step  1100 . The process then moves to step  1102 . At step  1102 , a customer signs on to a personal shopping device  202 . The process then moves to step  1104 , which depicts a customer scanning a discount card or loyalty card through bar code reader/magnetic card/smartcard reader module  208 . The process next proceeds to step  1106 , which depicts a customer entering a WIC ID through an input device  118  such as bar code reader/magnetic card/smartcard reader module  208 . The process then moves to step  1108 . At step  1108 , customer WIC benefit data is transferred to personal shopper device  202  from server  124  through short range transmitter  122 . The process next moves to step  1110 , at which a customer scans in all manufacture coupons. 
     The process next proceeds to step  1112 , at which a customer scans an item for purchase, and then proceeds to step  1114 . At step  1114 , personal shopping device  202  performs an item price query. The process then moves to step  1116 , which begins business logic process  1152 , containing steps  1116 - 1134 . Step  1116  depicts personal shopping device  202  determining if the purchased item is covered under a store promotion or loyalty card program. If the product is not covered under a store promotion or a loyalty card program, then the process moves to step  1118 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  determining if the product matches a manufacturer coupon. If the product does not match manufacturer coupon, then the process moves to step  1122 . Step  1122  depicts personal shopping device  202  applying any remaining store discounts. 
     Returning to step  1116 , if the item purchased is subject to a store promotion or loyalty card, then the process next moves to step  1126 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  reducing the base price of the selected item by a discount amount. The process next moves to step  1128 . At step  1128 , personal shopping device  202  applies a store coupon for the difference between the original price and the discount price. The process then returns to step  1118 . At step  1118 , as described above, personal shopping device  202  determines whether a manufacturer coupon matches the selected item. If a manufacturer coupon matches the selected item, then the process moves to step  1130 . At step  1130 , personal shopping device reduces the modified item price by the coupon amount. The process then moves to step  1120 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  determining if the coupon is configured for multiplication. If the coupon is configured for multiplication, then the process moves to step  1132 . At step  1132 , personal shopping device  202  applies an applicable multiple factor such as double coupons or triple coupons. The process then moves to step  1134 . At step  1134 , personal shopping device  202  reduces the price by any applicable amount of discounts. The process then moves to step  1122 , which is described above. 
     After step  1122 , the process then moves to step  1136 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  determining if the item is WIC eligible. If the item is not WIC eligible, then the process moves to step  1138 , which depicts the personal shopping device adding the items to a normal (non-WIC) items list. The process then moves to step  1148 . At step  1148 , if the personal shopping device  202  determines that a last item or checkout has not been detected, then the process moves to step  1146 , which is described below. 
     Returning to step  1136 , if an item is WIC eligible, then the process moves to step  1140 . At step  1140 , the value of a WIC benefit is calculated by personal shopping device  202  for the selected item. The process then moves to step  1142 . At step  1142 , personal shopping device  202  associates the WIC value of the item with the item code. The process next moves to step  1144 , which depicts personal shopping device  1144  inserting the item code into a list of WIC-eligible items, such as WIC Items inventory view  700 . The process next moves to step  1148 . At step  1148 , if the personal shopping device  202  determines that a last item or checkout has been detected, then the process moves to step  1146 . 
     At step  1146 , personal shopping device  202  displays a list of WIC and non-WIC items with subtotals for each list, such as all-items inventory view  400 . The process then moves to step  1150 , which illustrates personal shopping device  202  determining whether user has moved a ‘normal’ (non-WIC) item to the WIC items list, such as by actuating reinstatement button  414  to move an item to WIC cost column  408 . If an item has been moved to a ‘normal’ (non-WIC) item list, then the process moves to step  1154 , which depicts personal shopping device  202  recalculating and displaying totals for both lists. The process then returns to step  1150 . 
     At step  1150 , if an item has not been moved to a ‘normal’ (non-WIC) item list, then the process moves to step  1156 . At step  1156 , personal shopping device  202  determines whether a WIC item has been moved to the ‘normal’ (non-WIC) items list, such as by actuating removal button  412  to move an item to out-of-pocket (OOP) cost item column  410 . If a WIC item has been moved to the ‘normal’ (non-WIC) items list, then the process moves to step  1154 , which is described above. If a WIC item has not been moved to the ‘normal’ (non-WIC) items list, then the process moves to step  1158 . At step  1158 , personal shopping device  202  asks a user to approve his total out of pocket expense. If the user does not approve his out of pocket expense, then the process returns to step  1146 . If the user does approve his out of pocket expense, then the process next proceeds to step  1160 , which illustrates personal shopping device  202  proceeding to payment. The process then ends at step  1162 . 
     While the invention has been particularly shown as described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is also important to note that although the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functional computer system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the present invention are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media utilized to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of signal bearing media include, without limitation, recordable type media such as floppy disks or CD ROMs and transmission type media such as analog or digital communication links.