Patent Publication Number: US-2013253982-A1

Title: System, method and apparatus for locating products

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/613,689 filed Mar. 21, 2012, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to system, method and apparatus for locating products, and more specifically, to system, method and apparatus for locating available products within a store, and providing supply chain information about the products. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Searching for products within a store is one area of our lives that has seen little improvement with the increases in technology found in other aspects of our lives. For example, in a local store, such as a grocery store or hardware store, shoppers still use the end of the aisle guides that include three to five generic terms of products on shelves in that aisle to locate products. The three to five generic terms attempt to represent the hundreds of products that are included in that aisle. 
     In addition, shoppers today are facing increasing time constraints. These time constraints lead many shoppers to have a decreased amount of patience when searching for items. Certainly, employees at the store may aid in finding a product, but often shoppers do not request their services. Lost sales result from this changing environment. When a shopper goes to the store for a single product, he or she may spend a finite amount of time searching the aisle guides before leaving the store without purchasing the product. This type of lost sale represents just a fraction of the amount of sales that may be lost because shoppers are unable to locate desired items. Shoppers may go to a store to pick up a list of items. They may face time constraints that are placed on the shopping trip, such as before dinner, or before another obligation, for example. They may spend considerable time looking for one item on the list, only to run out of time. This leaves all of the other items on the list as lost sales. Alternatively, the shopper may find nine items on the list out of ten and fail to locate the tenth item before time expires on the trip. This tenth item is a lost sale. 
     These lost sales do not even account for the shoppers who become increasingly frustrated with the shopping experience and fail to return to the store. Such frustrated shoppers may shop online, where the online searching suits their needs, or may stop shopping at certain retail stores. These frustrated shoppers may only shop at certain stores when ample time is available—a condition that is much less prevalent today. 
     Thus, there exists a need for a system and method that enables shoppers to locate products within a store in a timely and less frustrating manner than exists today. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system for locating a product within a store is disclosed. The system includes a database for indexing at least one location of substantially each product within the store. The database includes information related to substantially each product. The system includes a local device suitable to receive information related to a product to be located within the store. The local device is coupled to the database and identifies at least one product to locate from a comparison of the received information to the information included in the database. The system includes a location engine that provides the location within the store of the identified at least one product. 
     A system for locating a product within a store is disclosed. The system includes a communication interface for receiving information associated with the product to be located, a database that includes information about a plurality of products including the location of the product within the store, a processor for processing the received information to determine at least one of the plurality of products in the database as being the product to be located, and a display device for displaying the determined location of the product. The processor queries the database to determine the location of the product to be located. 
     A method for locating a product in a store is disclosed. The method includes identifying at least one product to locate from a comparison of input information to the information included in a database and providing the location of the at least one product within the store. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated by consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a diagrammatic view of the system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a method for locating product in a store; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a screen shot of a screen of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a mapping to locate a product in a store; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a mapping to locate a product in a store; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a mapping to locate a product in a store; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a method of upselling and advertising; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a method that may be utilized in ordering products; 
         FIG. 9  shows an example computing device that may be used to implement features of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows a screen of the computing device of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11   a  illustrates a unit according to an embodiment of the present invention for use in locating products; 
         FIG. 11   b  illustrates a unit according to an embodiment of the present invention for use in locating products; 
         FIG. 11   c  illustrates a unit according to an embodiment of the present invention for use in locating products; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a screen shot of a screen of system; and 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a mapping to locate a product in a store. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, many other elements found in locator and mapping, merchandising, and ordering systems. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that other elements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing the present invention. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements and steps is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and modifications to such elements and methods known to those skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a diagrammatic view of the system of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1  there is a locating system  100 . System  100  includes a local device  110 , a location engine  120 , an advertising and upsell engine  130 , an ordering engine  140 , and a database and/or storage medium  150 . System  100  may be coupled to service providers  170  through the Internet  160 . 
     System  100  includes database  150  for indexing at least one location of substantially each product within the store. Database  150  includes information related to substantially each product. This information may include product name, location, SKU or other barcode information, manufacturer, related products, available inventory and the like. Database  150  may also include reviews of products from and internal review organization, such as Home Depot reviews, for example, and reviews from national or international review bodies, such as Consumer Reports, for example. 
     System  100  includes local device  110  suitable to receive information related to a product to be located within the store. Local device  110  is coupled to database  150  and identifies at least one product to locate from a comparison of the received information to the information included in database  150 . Local device  110  may include the unit with which a customer, consumer, or user interacts. Local device  110  may include a number of user interaction devices including a keyboard, speaker, microphone and visual display, for example. For example, local device  110  may include a user interface for inputting information about the product. 
     System  100  includes location engine  120  that provides the location within the store of the identified at least one product. Location engine  120  may include map(s) of the store as well as coordinated to identify the placement of the product within the store. Location engine  120  may also include access to aisle, section, and shelf to identify the location of products. Location engine  120  may include a store layout and stocking information for the store. 
     System  100  includes advertising and upsell engine  130  that provides the local device with products that represent increased margins. Advertising and upsell engine  130  may include or have access to information, such as may be contained within database  150 , that enables placement of products in categories, and cost and price information related to each product so that engine  130  may make recommendations based on increased margins. 
     System  100  includes ordering engine  140  that identifies trends in product searches. System  100  includes a coupling of local device  110  to internet  160  and/or to at least one service provider  170 . Ordering engine  140  may identify trends in product searches, such as an increase in grill searches during the spring season or snow shovels during the winter. 
     System  100  provides consumers with way to find the location of products within a store or nearby stores. System  100  provides products by category, problem solved, and products that are often purchased with other identified desired products. System  100  provides companies with the ability to meet consumers&#39; expectations and to ensure that customers&#39; needs are met. 
     Local device  110  may provide a user interface for inputting information about a product or products to be located within the store. Local device  110  may include a microphone to receive user speech, a keyboard to receive user typed input, a scanner to read product information, such as a barcode, for example. Drop-down menus and links may also be used to identify products from a hierarchical product menu system. Further, local device  110  may be used to identify products that perform certain tasks and may provide general searching within the store or for products. Users may also use local device  110  to read product reviews, find out about specials within the store, and see ratings of products within the store. 
     Local device  110  may display results from a search on the display window and/or may provide the ability to print a hard copy of the store map or directions to a located product within the store. Other information may also be output on a display screen and/or be available for printing. 
     Although local device  110  is shown as being distinct within system  100 , and in particular distinct from location engine  120 , advertising and up sell engine  130 , ordering engine  140 , and database  150 , local device  110  may encompass any or multiple of these engines and storage media, and the depiction shown in  FIG. 1  uniquely identifying these engines is for ease of understanding and illustration. 
     Local device  110  may include the ability to operate using a myriad of languages. Such language may include Spanish, English, French and German, by way of non-limiting example only. This language may include screen prompts, displays and user inputs. Such a language variation may enable system  100  to interact with potential customers who know/speak a language other than English. 
     Associated with the language display capabilities, database  150  may provide cross-references of products in multiple languages. Alternatively or additionally, a translation device may be used to convert information from English, the language used to store in database  150 , to the language selected by a user for interaction. That is, system  100  may translate “on the fly” to the language selected and/or may contain information in database  150  in a plurality of languages selecting the appropriate information based at least in part on the language. 
     Location engine  120  may help shoppers locate products in the store, locate sale items, and identify products associated with the products or solutions to encountered problems. Location engine  120  may use a map that pinpoints the location of the requested product or products within the store. This may include providing aisle information and the location information of the search for product or products within a given aisle. Location engine  120  may include a store layout and may include stocking information for the store. Location engine  120  may also include information related to inventory information and locations at other stores such as, for example, a chain of stores. 
     Advertising and upsell engine  130  may include information from local device  110  and may be provided information from database  150  to provide local device  110  with advertising and/or product and upsell opportunities. Communication between local device  110  and advertising and upsell engine  130  may include identification of the product or products that a user requested to be located within the store. This information may allow advertising and upsell engine  130  to identify goods that the user is interested in and create an opportunity to provide the user with advertising for certain products and/or an opportunity to provide an item for sale with increased margins for the store. Advertising and upsell engine  130  may communicate with database  150  to retrieve advertising information from database  150  based on a decision made by engine  130 . Further, engine  130  may query database  150  to provide other goods that may be linked to those item(s) requested to be located by user. 
     For example, if a user enters the store containing system  100  and interacts with system  100  by requesting the location of hammers, such as a Husky 20 oz. Steel Rip Hammer, engine  130  may provide information to local device  110  identifying an Estwing 20 oz. Straight-Claw Rip Hammer as a potential upsell from the Husky model requested. Engine  130  may provide an advertisement to local device  110  after interacting with database  150  to determine the Estwing Hammer is an upsell product for the Husky Hammer queried. Database  150  upon request from engine  130  may provide an advertisement for the Estwing Hammer and this advertisement may be relayed to local device  110  for display to the user requesting the Husky Hammer. 
     In addition, engine  130  may identify other products, such as nails, that may be used with a hammer. This identification may result from a relationship identified in database  150  and communicated to engine  130 , and/or may be determined by engine  130 . Information about other products may be provided to local device  110  for display to the user requesting the Husky Hammer. 
     Ordering engine  140  may identify products that are searched for by users that are not included in the available products of the store either because the store does not stock that item or because the store has sold all of those items. Further, ordering engine  140  may also identify products that are demonstrating trends such as customers increasing the number of searches, or decreasing the number of searches for the product. Ordering engine  140  may communicate this information to database  150 . Database  150  may communicate information about the quantities of products within the store, other nearby competitor stores, or other stores within a chain of stores to be used in the logic of ordering engine  140 . 
     Database and/or storage medium  150  may include any one or more organized collections of data for one or more purposes. The data may be in digital form or otherwise. The data may be organized to model relevant aspects of reality, such as products contained in aisles of a store, in a way that supports processes requiring this information, such as finding products in a store. Database may include the logical and physical materialization of its data, content, in files, computer memory, and computer data storage and the memory and storage itself. The memory and storage may include the physical devices used to store programs including the sequences of instructions of the present invention or data on a temporary or permanent basis for use in a computer or other digital electronic device. 
     Internet  160  may include any electronic or computer network, and may operate as a collection of computers and devices interconnected by communication channels that facilitate communications and allow sharing of resources and information among interconnected devices. That is, internet  160  may be a collection of two or more computers linked together for the purposes of sharing information, and resources, among other things. The interconnections may use circuit switching or message switching and devices may have a unique address so messages or connections may be routed to the correct recipients. 
     Service providers  170  may include any entity that communicates remotely with system  100 . This may include advertisers, logistical support entities, and warehousing providers, by way of non-limiting example only. Logistical support entities may provide procurement, including carrier rate negotiations and selection, planning, including strategic network assessment and optimization of mode and carrier, execution, including day-to-day movement of freight, shipment tender, service monitoring, exception resolution and performance management, and administration, including invoicing, reporting, claims management, freight bill audit and payment, plus contract administration. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a method  200  for locating a product in a store. Method  200  includes identifying the product to be located at step  205 . Method  200  may include determining the class of product and availability of the product at step  210 . Method  200  may further identify any related products at step  215 . The locations of the identified product and any related products may be provided at step  220 . Upselling and advertising of products may be included in method  200  at step  225 . Method  200  may include ordering products at step  230  or printing out the location of the product. 
     Identifying the product to be located  205  may include an input by user where a user may input the name, type of product, or other identifying features of the product into the system. For example, if a user enters the store looking for razors, such a user may input “razors” into system  100 . Alternatively or additionally, the user may input “MACH 5,” a specific type of razor, into system  100 . 
     The uses or problems solved by a product may be input to identifying the product at step  205 . For example, a user looking for a plunger may input “clogged toilet” into system  100 . The products identified by such an input may include plungers and drain cleaners, for example. For example, system  100  may identify the product at step  205  by referencing database  150  and identifying a plunger as a product to fix a toilet clog. Database  150  may also identify other products to remedy the clogged toilet. Since the user did not specifically request a plunger, a myriad of products may be presented to the user for selection and further locating. 
     Selection windows and drop down menus may be used to identify the product at step  205 . For example, a user may be able to select a category of products, such as plumbing or lumber, for example. If plumbing is selected, the user than may be provided with a selection of different plumbing products or categories of products. Upon selection of the subsequent category further products or categories of products may be displayed. The categories of products may take several layers. Ultimately, products may be displayed and/or described to the user for selection and further locating. By way of non-limiting example only, a user may select plumbing from a first menu, followed by selecting kitchen in a second menu. System  100  may then display to the user kitchen plumbing products for further user selection. 
     Determining the class of product and availability of the product at step  210  identifies the category of products that a product is in. This may be achieved by querying of database  150 , for example, identifying a hammer as a tool and making a determination if a Husky 20 oz. Steel Rip Hammer is in stock. This identification may identify the Rip Hammer as a hammer and as a hand tool, for example. In such a situation, the class of product may be hammers and/or hand tools. Further, a determination may be made at step  210  as to the availability of the Rip Hammer. 
     Identifying any related products at step  215  may include providing other products that may be of interest, such as products based on the determined class of product. Related products may include blades for razors, nails for hammers, and other associated products, for example. Other less direct connections may be made through database  150 . These less direct product connections may include wine to go with a movie, for example. 
     Providing the locations of the identified product and any related products at step  220  may include accessing location engine  120  and/or database  150  to locate the product within the store, and determining if the product is in stock at step  210 . The aisle and location within the aisle may be provided. This may include dividing the aisle into quarters, or providing the number of feet down the aisle, for example. Additionally, the shelf and/or bin number of the product may be provided, such as on the third shelf, for example. Included with the location may be a picture of the item, either individually or as placed within the store, to aid in finding the product within the aisle. The location of any identified related products may also be provided. For example, if the searched item was a Husky 20 oz. Steel Rip Hammer, method  200  may output that the hammer is located in aisle 9 on the right side, third shelf, for example, and may additionally output that nails are located in aisle 10 on the left side. A map of the aisle including the location of relevant items may also be provided. 
     Upselling and advertising products at step  225  may be performed in advertising and upsell engine  130  in conjunction with database  150 . Upselling as used herein refers collectively to both upselling and cross-selling. Upselling is a sales technique whereby a seller induces the customer to purchase more expensive items, upgrades, or other add-ons in an attempt to make a more profitable sale. Upselling usually involves marketing more profitable services or products, but may also be simply exposing the customer to other options that were perhaps not considered previously. Upselling implies selling something that is more profitable or otherwise preferable for the seller instead of, or in addition to, the original sale. Cross-selling is when a seller tries to sell something else based on known information. Collectively, upselling is used to enhance the value that the user or users get from the store or business in addition to maximizing the profit that the business gets from the user. For example, upselling may include suggesting a premium brand of a product when a brand is not specified by a customer, suggesting a brand of a product different from the brand specified by a customer, suggesting a customer purchase a more extensive product package, or buy a larger size product. 
     Advertising may also be included within method  200 . Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade viewers to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering. Advertising messages may be paid for by sponsors and viewed on local device  110 . This advertising may be based on the product or products that are to be located, or may be based on other factors, such as sales occurring in the store or locally with respect to the store, or based on paid airtime, all by way of non-limiting examples only. 
     Ordering products at step  230  may include placing orders for products to maintain inventory at certain level. Ordering products at step  230  may include inventory management. Inventory management, or inventory control, may include any attempt to balance inventory needs and requirements with the need to minimize costs resulting from obtaining and holding inventory. Inventory is a quantity or store of goods that is held for some purpose or use. Inventory may be kept “in-house,” meaning on the premises or nearby for immediate use; or it may be held in a distant warehouse or distribution center for future use. Stores often have hundreds or even thousands of products for sale. These products may have different part numbers and therefore require monitoring the inventory levels of each part number. This monitoring may occur, at least in part, using codes that are scanned when products are purchased. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a screen shot  250  of a screen of system  100 . Screen shot  250  may include a welcome screen that enables a user to initiate locating a desired product. For example, in  FIG. 3 , screen shot  250  shows a welcome screen that enables a user to select an interactive button allowing the system to initiate “Find an item”  252 , “Online Shopping”  254 , “Store Information”  256  and a “Download: On the go Aisle Wizard APP”  258 . 
     Initiate “Find an item”  252  may activate system  100  to interact with the user to locate the user&#39;s desired product. Referring now additionally to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  illustrates the mapping that occurs in locating the desired product.  FIG. 4  illustrates three methods of locating an item: “Type in a description”  260 , “Choose a category”  262 , and “Enter a UPC”  264 . One way to find an item is to “Type in a description”  260 . Using such an entry technique, a user may enter a description into system  100  to search and provide information  266  regarding potential items that match the entered description. The information  266  provided may include pictures, descriptions, and universal product code (UPC) symbols of potentially matching items. While UPC symbols are used hereinthroughout, these UPC symbols, generally used within the United States, also include reference to an international article number or international article number (collectively EAN), often used within Europe and other parts of the world. By way of non-limiting example only, three items  268  may be identified and displayed to the user for selection. The displayed items  268  may include item A, item B, and item C, for example. The requesting user may review the items A, B, and C by reviewing the information  266 . In this example, if the user selects item B, the result  270  of the located item B may be displayed to the requesting user. In this example, system  100  may identify item B as being located in Aisle 13, Section C, 2 nd  Shelf. System  100  may also include with result  270  any similar or related items or products that may be of interest to the requesting user. An option to buy items online may also be provided. 
     If the user selects “Choose a category”  262 , the flow of  FIG. 5  may be followed.  FIG. 5  illustrates a “Choose a category” flow of locating an item in system  100 . If a user selects “Choose a category”  262 , a myriad of categories  272  may be provided for identifying an item to be located. By way of non-limiting example only, Electronics and Office, Movie, Music and Books, Home Furniture and Outdoor, Apparel, Shoes and Jewelry, Toys and Video Games, Sports and Fitness, Auto and Home Improvement, and Grocery and Pets categories may be provided. Categories  272  may be varied by store and the types of products that the store offers. The categories  272  of a grocery store may include categories  272  for each of the type of products located on the aisle marker signs, for example. 
     Once a category  272  is selected system  100  may cascade to sub-categories  274 . While the present description and associated figures discuss one level of sub-categories  274 , any number of levels of sub-categories are contemplated and focusing the discussion on a single sub-category level is for ease of understanding the present invention. Sub-categories  274  may be more specific categories associated with the selected category  272 . For example, if category  272  is selected as spices, such as in a grocery store, for example, sub-categories  274  may include different types of spices and herbs, such as allspice, basil, caraway seed, cayenne, cumin, cloves, and the like. Upon selection of one of the sub-categories, a select number of items  268  may be displayed to the user. Using the example with respect to  FIG. 4  and by way of non-limiting example only, three items  268  may be identified and displayed to the user for selection. The displayed items  268  may include item A, item B, and item C, for example. The requesting user may review the products A, B, and C by reviewing the information  266 . In this example, if the user selects item B, the result  270  of the located item B may be displayed to the requesting user. In this example, system  100  may identify item B as being located in Aisle 13, Section C, 2 nd  Shelf. System  100  may also include with result  270  any similar or related items or products that may be of interest to the requesting user. An option to buy items online may also be provided. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown an “Enter a UPC”  264  flow of locating an item in system  100 . A UPC may be entered by scanning, by typing in the code symbols or alphanumeric equivalent, or the like. From the entered UPC, and using the example with respect to  FIG. 4 , and by way of non-limiting example only, three items  268  may be identified and displayed to the user for selection. The displayed items  268  may include item A, item B, and item C, for example. The requesting user may review the products A, B, and C by reviewing the information  266 . In this example, if the user selects item B, the result  270  of the located item B may be displayed to the requesting user. In this example, system  100  may identify item B as being located in Aisle 13, Section C, 2 nd  Shelf. As with the discussion of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , system  100  may also include with result  270  any similar or related items or products that may be of interest to the requesting user. An option to buy items online may also be provided. 
     Referring now specifically to  FIG. 3 , initiate “Online Shopping”  254 , and any of the options for buying items online discussed herein may include any process whereby users directly or indirectly buy goods or services from a seller in real-time, without an intermediary service, over the Internet, such as via electronic commerce, for example. The online shopping may provide an online shop, eshop, e-store, internet shop, webshop, webstore, online store, or virtual store that evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a bricks-and-mortar retailer or in a shopping centre, for example. 
     The initiate “Store Information”  256  may provide the user with certain information related to the stores and/or system  100 . This information may include a general description and name of the store, the address and location information of the store, the telephone number, fax, and return policy of the store, and the like. 
     Initiating “Download: On the go Aisle Wizard APP”  258  may initiate the ability to download an application, such as for the user&#39;s phone or electronic device to aid in locating items within the store. A more detailed description of the application may be found hereinbelow with respect to  FIGS. 12-13 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a method  300  of upselling and advertising applicable within system  100 . Method  300  includes determining where the search for product fits within a spectrum of offered products at step  302 . Method  300  includes determining potential improved products at step  304 . Method  300  includes offering improved products at step  306 . If a user selects a new product, method  300  includes updating the searched for product at step  308  and looping back to determine potential improved products at step  304 . If the improved products offered at step  306  are declined, method  300  may include advertising companion products at step  310 . 
     Determining where the searched for product fits within a spectrum of offered products at step  302  may include accessing database  150  to determine other similar products. In the case of products, for example, there may be a standard model, a deluxe model, and a luxury model, for example. Often there may additionally be a store brand for a product, as well. Method  300  includes determining where the searched for product fits within this spectrum of offered products at step  302 . A store may include in database  150  a compilation of the models of a product, including the store brand, standard, deluxe, and luxury product lines. A determination may be made  302  as to where the searched for product fits in this spectrum. There may be a scoring system provided, such as a 1 for store brand, 3 for standard, 6 for deluxe and 9 for luxury to aid in processing the information. 
     Once the determination is made as to where the searched for product fits within the spectrum of products, improved products at step  304  may be determined. This may occur by identifying the luxury and deluxe models of a searched for product via a reference to database  150 , for example. The luxury and deluxe models may be improved products as compared to the standard model, for example. 
     These improved products may be offered  306  to a user. For example, the user may be queried that they requested a standard brand hammer and this blue handle hammer offers improved performance. 
     The offering of improved products at step  306  may be iteratively performed with the updated searched product at step  308  and looping to determine potential improved products at step  304  when a user selects an upgrade to the product as the updated searched product. This looping occurs by replacing the original searched for product with the newly selected improved product and repeating steps  304  and  306 . 
     Advertising companion products at step  310  may also occur in method  300 . Companion products may include products that are tied to the searched for product, such as blades to razors, for example, and may also include additional products that enable the searched for product to operate better. For example, if the searched for product is paint, a companion product may be brushes, buckets, and painters tape, for example. These companion products may be advertised to a user of system  100 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a method  400  that may be utilized in ordering products. Method  400  includes examining trends in searched products at step  405  and comparing trends to metrics associated with products at step  410 . Method  400  may include ordering products at step  420 . If the order is placed, method  400  may include adjusting the metrics associated with the trends for the search products at step  430 . If the product is not ordered, method  400  may include expanding in-store merchandise at step  440 . 
     Examining trends in searched products at step  405  may include counting the number of times each product is searched. Further, this may include comparing the number of times a product is searched with the number of those products that are purchased. The trends may also include the correlation between purchases and searches and how this correlation is affected by the placement of the product within the store. That is, the correlation may track purchases and searches as a function of product placement within the store. The trends may be monitored over any period of time, such as one day, one week, one month, one year, and ten years, for example. In addition, multiple time periods of trends may be tracked and analyzed. 
     Comparing trends to metrics associated with products at step  410  may include comparing current trends to trends that are maintained within database  150 . For example, comparing trends may include comparing current trends to historical trends over the same time period. For example, comparing trends may include daily comparisons of trends to same store trends during a same or similar timeframe. This may enable system  100  to account for increases in batteries when daylight savings time begins or ends commensurate with the recommended changing of batteries in smoke detectors, for example. 
     Ordering products at step  420  may include any element of inventory control and management. Ordering products at step  420  may include ordering product or products that have seen increased searching, for example. Ordering products at step  420  may include modifying inventory quantities for product or products based on results of the compared trends at step  410 . More specifically, ordering products includes determining the quantity of products of each type to maintain in inventory and placing orders with vendors to maintain the inventory at the preset level. 
     Once an order is placed, an adjusting of the metrics associated with the trends for the search products at step  430  may occur. Such an adjusting may account for the additional ordered products, for example. The metrics may be adjusted to account for the additional products being held in inventory. For example, if the product at issue is drill bits and the metrics initially determine that there needs to be more inventory of drill bits, the adjusted metrics may account for the increased number of drill bits in inventory, allowing the compare trends at step  410  to be run again. A subsequent running of the comparison at step  410  may determine that with the increased drill bits in inventory, additional drills may need to be ordered. Such an order may be placed and then the metrics adjusted  430  again, followed by comparing the trends at step  410 . 
     If the trends and metric comparison at step  410  determines that products need to be ordered, yet ordering products does not occur at step  420 , a change in the in-store merchandise at step  440  may need to occur. For example, if the trends and metrics determine that additional drill bits need to be in inventory and the order for additional drill bits does not occur, expanding merchandise at step  440  may determine that the store is not interested in carrying drill bits and/or related products. In such a situation, a modification of the in-store merchandise may occur. 
       FIG. 9  shows an example computing device  510  that may be used to implement features describe above with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . The computing device  510  includes a processor  518 , memory device  520 , communication interface  522 , peripheral device interface  512 , display device interface  514 , and data storage device  516 .  FIG. 9  also shows a display device  524 , which may be coupled to or included within the computing device  510 . 
     The memory device  520  may be or include a device such as a Dynamic Random Access Memory (D-RAM), Static RAM (S-RAM), or other RAM or a flash memory. The data storage device  516  may be or include a hard disk, a magneto-optical medium, an optical medium such as a CD-ROM, a digital versatile disk (DVDs), or Blu-Ray disc (BD), or other type of device for electronic data storage. 
     The communication interface  522  may be, for example, a communications port, a wired transceiver, a wireless transceiver, and/or a network card. The communication interface  522  may be capable of communicating using technologies such as Ethernet, fiber optics, microwave, xDSL (Digital Subscriber Line), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology, wireless cellular technology, and/or any other appropriate technology. 
     The peripheral device interface  512  is configured to communicate with one or more peripheral devices. The peripheral device interface  512  operates using a technology such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), PS/2, Bluetooth, infrared, serial port, parallel port, and/or other appropriate technology. The peripheral device interface  512  may, for example, receive input data from an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a touch screen, a touch pad, a stylus pad, and/or other device. Alternatively or additionally, the peripheral device interface  512  may communicate output data to a printer that is attached to the computing device  510  via the peripheral device interface  512 . 
     The display device interface  514  may be an interface configured to communicate data to display device  524 . The display device  524  may be, for example, a monitor or television display, a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and/or a display based on a technology such as front or rear projection, light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), or Digital Light Processing (DLP). The display device interface  514  may operate using technology such as Video Graphics Array (VGA), Super VGA (S-VGA), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), or other appropriate technology. The display device interface  514  may communicate display data from the processor  518  to the display device  524  for display by the display device  524 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the display device  524  may be external to the computing device  510 , and coupled to the computing device  510  via the display device interface  514 . Alternatively, the display device  524  may be included in the computing device  500 . 
     An instance of the computing device  510  of  FIG. 9  may be configured to perform any feature or any combination of features described above as performed by the local device  110 . Alternatively or additionally, the memory device  520  and/or the data storage device  516  may store instructions which, when executed by the processor  518 , cause the processor  518  to perform any feature or any combination of features described above as performed by the locating system  100 . Alternatively or additionally, each or any of the features described above as performed by the locating system  100  may be performed by the processor  518  in conjunction with the memory device  520 , communication interface  522 , peripheral device interface  512 , display device interface  514 , and/or storage device  516 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a screen  600  of the computing device  510  of  FIG. 9 . The screen  600  may be controlled by a processor (not depicted), memory device (not depicted), communication interface (not depicted), peripheral device interface (not depicted), display device interface (not depicted), storage device (not depicted), and may be a touch screen display, which may possess characteristics of the processor  518 , memory device  520 , communication interface  522 , peripheral device interface  512 , display device interface  514 , storage device  516 , and display device  524 , respectively, as described above with reference to  FIG. 9 . Screen  600  may receive user input using technology such as, for example, resistive sensing technology, capacitive sensing technology, optical sensing technology, or any other appropriate touch-sensing technology. 
       FIG. 11   a  illustrates a unit  700   a  according to an embodiment of the present invention for use in locating products that may be used to implement features describe above with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 . Unit  700   a  includes a base  710   a  providing support for the unit. A riser  720   a  is coupled to and supported by base  710   a . Display  730   a  is coupled to and spaced from base  710   a  by riser  720   a . Riser  720   a  may be configured to place the height of display  730   a  at an operable location. For example, if base  710   a  is located on the floor making unit  700   a  a floor display, riser  720   a  may be sized to provide display  730   a  to a user at an appropriate height, such as for example waist height or some other operate distance from the floor. Display  730   a  may take the form of screen  600 , for example. 
       FIG. 11   b  illustrates a unit  700   b  according to an embodiment of the present invention for use in locating products that may be used to implement features describe above with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 . Unit  700   b  may be similar to unit  700   a . Unit  700   b  similarly includes a base  710   b  providing support for the unit. A riser  720   b  is coupled to and supported by base  710   b . Display  730   b  is coupled to and spaced from base  710   b  by riser  720   b . Riser  720   b  may be configured to place the height of display  730   b  at an operable location. Display  730   b  may take the form of screen  600 , for example. 
       FIG. 11   c  illustrates a unit  700   c  according to an embodiment of the present invention for use in locating products that may be used to implement features describe above with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 . Unit  700   c  may be similar to units  700   a ,  700   b . Unit  700   c  similarly includes a base  710   c  providing support for the unit. A riser  720   c  is coupled to and supported by base  710   c . Display  730   c  is coupled to and spaced from base  710   c  by riser  720   c . Riser  720   c  may be configured to place the height of display  730   c  at an operable location. Display  730   c  may take the form of screen  600 , for example. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a screen shot  1200  of a screen of system  100 . Screen shot  1200  may include a welcome screen that enables a user to initiate locating a desired product using an application. A user may download an application, such as onto a PDA, and may run this application to locate products within a store. Screen shot  1200  depicts a screen illustration of an application running on a user device. For example, in  FIG. 12 , screen shot  1200  shows a welcome screen that enables a user to select interactive button allowing the system to initiate “Store finder”  1210 , “Online Shopping”  1220 , and a “Bar code Scanner”  1230 . 
     Referring now also to  FIG. 13 , Initiating “Store finder”  1210  enables three levels of finding an item, “Type in a description”  1360 , “Choose a category”  1362 , and “Enter a UPC”  1364  in a similar fashion to that described hereinabove. One way to find an item is to “Type in a description”  1360 . Using such an entry technique, a user may enter a description for system  100  to search and provide information  1366  regarding potential items that match the entered description. The information  1366  provided may include pictures, descriptions, and UPC of potentially matching items. By way of non-limiting example only, three items  1368  may be identified and displayed to the user for selection. The displayed items  1368  may include item A, item B, and item C, for example. The requesting user may review the products A, B, and C by reviewing the information  1366 . In this example, if the user selects item B, the result  270  of the located item B may be displayed to the requesting user. In this example, system  100  may identify item B as being located in Aisle 13, Section C, and 2nd Shelf. System  100  may also include with result  1370  any similar or related items or products that may be of interest to the requesting user. An option to buy items online may also be provided. 
     If the user selects “Choose a category”  1362 , a myriad of categories (not shown) may be provided for identifying an item to be located. This is similar to that described with respect to  FIG. 5 . Again once a category is selected system  100  may cascade to sub-categories. While the present description and associated figures discuss one level of sub-categories  274 , any numbers of levels of sub-categories are contemplated and focusing the discussion on a single sub-category level is for ease of understanding the present invention. Sub-categories may be more specific categories associated with the selected category. 
     If the user selects “Enter a UPC”  1364 , a UPC may be entered by scanning, by typing in the code symbols or alphanumeric equivalent, or the like. This is similar to that described with respect to  FIG. 6  hereinabove. From the entered UPC, items may be identified and displayed to the user for selection. 
     Initiating “Online Shopping”  1220 , similar to the “Online Shopping”  254 , includes any of the options for buying items online discussed herein. This includes any process whereby users directly or indirectly buy goods or services from a seller in real-time, without an intermediary service, over the Internet, such as via electronic commerce, for example. The online shopping may provide an online shop, eshop, e-store, internet shop, webshop, webstore, online store, or virtual store that evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a bricks-and-mortar retailer or in a shopping centre, for example. 
     Initiating “Bar code Scanner”  1230  may enable a user to scan in bar codes located on products, including, but not limited to entering a UPC described herein above. The scanning of the bar code may be performed with the application on the phone running the application. This may be achieved by initiating a camera on the phone to image the bar code at issue. The picture of the barcode may be decoded in the application to decode the specific information regarding the product associated with the bar code. 
     Although examples are provided above that relate to a locating system and related engines and apparati associated with the locating system to stores and products, the features described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-13  are also applicable and/or may be used by, mutatis mutandis, any type of business, any type of non-business organization, and/or any individual. In particular, this locating system may be used in hospitals, malls, libraries, and other places that maintain a collection of things or people. Further, although many of the examples relate to products for sale, products for loan, rent, borrow may also be located. And although the examples relate to products, other items, goods, services and the like that may be tracked and located may utilize the present invention. 
     As used herein, the term “processor” broadly refers to and is not limited to a single- or multi-core processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), one or more Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), a system-on-a-chip (SOC), and/or a state machine. 
     As used to herein, the term “computer-readable medium” broadly refers to and is not limited to a register, a cache memory, a ROM, a semiconductor memory device (such as a D-RAM, S-RAM, or other RAM), a magnetic medium such as a flash memory, a hard disk, a magneto-optical medium, an optical medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVDs, or BD, or other type of device for electronic data storage. 
     Although the methods and features are described above with reference to the example architecture of  FIG. 1 , the methods and features described above may be performed, mutatis mutandis, using any appropriate architecture and/or computing environment. Although features and elements are described above in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone or in any combination with or without the other features and elements. For example, each feature or element as described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-13  may be used alone without the other features and elements or in various combinations with or without other features and elements. Sub-elements and/or sub-steps of the methods described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-13  may be performed in any arbitrary order (including concurrently), in any combination or sub-combination. 
     As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the engines within the locating system of the present invention may draw on any number of communication access points and media sources, including wired and wireless, radio and cable, telephone, television and internet, personal electronic devices, satellite, databases, data files, and the like, in order to increase content in the database and/or local device, and best allow for recommendations and delivery. 
     Although the invention has been described and pictured in an exemplary form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the exemplary form has been made by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts and steps may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims hereinafter.