Patent Publication Number: US-2002002504-A1

Title: Mobile shopping assistant system and device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/202,220 filed May 5, 2000. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates in general to providing consumers with product information, and more particularly to a hand held computer used to provide information to a potential consumer for the purpose of making a purchasing decision.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Often, when consumers are looking for a product for potential purchase, they must spend considerable time in searching for the product at different locations. Accordingly, the potential consumer is often frustrated and uncertain as to whether the potential purchase of a selected product is a good value. Generally, conventional resources such as printed advertisements, radio or TV advertisements and other research tools provided to consumers, give the consumer with the ability to comparison shop.  
       [0004] However, this process is both time consuming and fraught with opportunities for unsatisfactory outcomes. For example, an advertisement may be misleading or represent only a limited supply of the advertised item. Employees may not be fully knowledgeable about the product and may not provide accurate information. Additionally, advertised items having a low price may not be readily available. Certain purchasing incentives such as coupons for discounts may be available at different locations, which will affect the net purchasing price. Additionally, it is often difficult for the consumer to compare products when the consumer must physically go to different locations at different times. It is often difficult for the consumer to accurately recollect the different products in order to make an accurate comparison. Accordingly, there is a need for a device and a system to assist consumers in the often tedious and difficult task of comparing products in order to obtain the best value.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The present invention comprises a device and method permitting consumers to quickly and accurately compare products and pricing of a particular product that has been located of interest to the consumer. A handheld computer or mobile shopping assistant has an optical scanner attached thereto for reading a bar code associated with a selected product. The product information from the bar code is transferred to a price and discount server that is coupled to a global computer network to provide product pricing and information. The mobile shopping assistant is coupled to a global positioning system to provide global positioning information to identify the location and distance to a similar or related product. Consumer selections and user history are stored and subsequently analyzed for marketing purposes.  
       [0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to help consumers make purchasing decisions.  
       [0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide the consumer with accurate information of comparable products of a single location.  
       [0008] It is an advantage of the present invention that it saves the consumer time and money.  
       [0009] It is a further advantage of the present invention that it provides marketing information on consumer selections.  
       [0010] It is a feature of the present invention that a bar scanner is used to provide initial product information.  
       [0011] It is another feature of the present invention that a wireless connection to a global computer network and global positioning system is used to provide product information and location.  
       [0012] These and other objects, advantages, and features will become readily apparent in view of the following detailed description.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013]FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a mobile shopping assistant system according to the present invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the features of a price and discount server.  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the acts or method steps for practicing the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0016]FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a mobile shopping assistant system. A mobile shopping assistant (MSA) device  10  has a display  12 . Optical scanner  14  is associated with the mobile shopping assistant  10 . A printer or other device associated with the mobile shopping assistant  10  may be utilized to print or transfer information related to a redemption certificate or coupon  16 . The optical scanner  14  is used to read a bar code  18  that is associated with a product. The mobile shopping assistant device  10  is coupled to a global positioning system  20  (GPS) and an internet service provider  22  (ISP). Arrows  19  represent the coupling as a wireless connection. The mobile shopping assistant device  10  has integrated therewith transmitters and receivers sufficient to communicate with the global positioning system ( 20 ) and the internet service provider  22 . The internet service provider  22  is utilized to connect to a global computer network  23  which in turn communicates with a price and discount server  24  (PDS).  
     [0017] Product information from the bar code  18  is provided to the mobile shopping assistant device  10 , which may be a handheld type computer. The mobile shopping assistant device  10  obtains global position or location information from the global positioning system  20  to identify the location of the product associated with bar code  18 . The mobile shopping assistant  10  coupled to the internet service provider  22  searches the global computer network and the price and discount server  24  to obtain information such as pricing, availability and location of similar products. The information is then displayed on display  12  of the mobile shopping assistant  10 .  
     [0018] Accordingly, the current invention allows consumers to scan any product&#39;s bar code, and compare prices for exactly the same item in other nearby stores, as well as in virtual sites on the internet or other global computer network. Thus, consumers will be able to determine the best price for the product after they had completed their price comparison and decided upon the purchase. This is so whether the product is where they found it, at a nearby location, or on the internet. At the same time, consumers will be able to find any manufacturer&#39;s coupons or discounts applicable to the product even if the discounts are not being made available at the purchase location chosen.  
     [0019] Importantly, because the system checks bar codes, consumers will be sure that the apparently cheaper product available at another location is really the same, and not merely a less expensive “knock-off”. In addition, consumers may also ask for information about comparable but slightly different products and their prices and locations.  
     [0020] The mobile shopping assistant device  10 , in association with the price and discount server  24 , may also store consumer information or product selections. This allows service providers to gather a unique stream of marketing data. This is because the system determines the consumer&#39;s interest at the moment when a purchase decision is actually being made or rejected. Such an at purchase point data are obviously far more relevant for marketers than standard research which only ask consumers theoretically about what they would purchase. These data are more valuable than only tracking actual sales because it includes information about consumers who are interested enough in buying to check comparative prices and locations, but have not in fact complete a purchase. The mobile shopping assistant device  10  and associated optical scanner  14  scans and stores bar code information from products. Additionally, the mobile shopping assistant device  10  contains global positioning system (GPS) technology that allows the device&#39;s geographic position to be defined. Data is exchanged in a continuous or nearly continuous basis via wireless connection to a global computer network or web based price and discount server (PDS) through an internet service provider (ISP). The information uploaded by the Mobile Shopping Assistant device  10  (MSA) through its scanning function, is combined with geographic location information, generated by the GPS technology and is then transmitted to the PDS via a wireless connection. Based on this information, the PDS generates a list of sites, off line and geographically proximal, and on line where the scanned product may be purchased and at what price. Additionally, the PDS will transmit coupon data including nationally advertised, locally advertised, and in store coupons, which can be either printed out or transmitted electronically to the merchant for redemption. The entire purchasing process; that is scanning the product bar code, then obtaining price comparisons between the user&#39;s current location and a remote location or on line, then finding applicable coupons or discounts, and finally making the purchase, will be collected centrally to generate a unique sequence of marketing data reflecting the real time comparative process used by consumers to arrive at a purchasing decision  
     [0021] The Mobile Shopping Assistant device  10  may also have an integrally or detachable printer and has the capability to transmit data directly to a cash register via a wireless signal. Information related to a coupon  16  may be included in the information relating to the product. In the case of the availability of a coupon, the coupon availability as well as the location of the sites accepting the coupon may be indicated. When a coupon is available, the Mobile Shopping Assistant device  10  may print out or transmit the discount information to the merchant for redemption. This feature of the invention may have similar features as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/650,908 filed Aug. 29, 2000 and entitled “Mobile Coupon Scanning and Locator System”, which is herein incorporated by reference.  
     [0022] Clearly, the Mobile Shopping Assistant device  10  may obtain information about the product utilizing the optical scanner  14 , or the data may be manually entered from a keypad or key display, or verbally a voice activated system.  
     [0023] Additionally, the Mobile Shopping Assistant device  10  may be packaged as a stand alone data unit, or built together with other types of electronic devices such as telephones, digital music players, electronic book display units, electronic games, personal data assistants (PDA) or other handheld electronic or computing or communication devices.  
     [0024] In a typical example of use of the present invention by a consumer, the consumer may scan a bar code on a product of interest, such as a white Amana model 2050 refrigerator with an automatic icemaker. The consumer utilizing the Mobile Shopping Assistant device  10  may be located in a Sears store on Beach Boulevard and Eddinger Avenue in Huntington Beach, Calif. The bar code data, along with the GPS coordinates, are transmitted to the price and discount server via wireless connection to the internet. The price and discount server  24  may then return part or all of the following information. The actual advertised or sale price of the refrigerator at the present location. The price of the same make and model of refrigerator at another retail location that is within a user defined distance from the present location. A list of internet web sites that sell the same make and model of refrigerator and the price of purchase and time and cost of delivery. A coupon, discount, or rebate certificate for the produce scanned provided by the manufacturer and applicable to the product wherever it is purchased. At the consumer&#39;s request, information can also be provided about comparable brand and model of refrigerator available at the current or remote or virtual location.  
     [0025]FIG. 2 illustrates in more detail the price and discount server  24  as well as other features of the present invention. Box  26  represents an internet search function. Box  28  represents coupon data that is available for different products as well as the stores in which they may be redeemable. Box  30  represents product location and pricing data. Box  32  represents product data. Box  34  represents consumer data such as user registration information and the history of use by the consumer, including product information requested. Box  36  represents location and product query and information provided by the consumer in association with use of the Mobile Shopping Assistant device  10 , illustrated in FIG. 1. Box  38  illustrates product information including pricing and location, comparison data and coupon data provided to the consumer through the Mobile Shopping Assistant device  10 , illustrated in FIG. 1. Element  40  represents a data processor that links the various functions or features.  
     [0026] The price and discount server  24  provides a combination of relational data sets with interrelated functions. The PDS  24  is a repository for pricing information on goods and services that are located either at retail locations or virtual sites on the internet. These data are acquired in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, marketing relationships with manufacturers and retailers, automated and manual internet price searches, newspaper, magazine and store flyer searches and in-store units. The PDS  24  also acts as the storage site for the pricing and availability data. It also updates price, sale, discount, coupon and rebate information on a wide array of products and insures that the most current pricing is reflected in the stored data. The PDS  24  also acts as an on demand search engine to locate pricing and discounts for products that were not previously listed in the stored data set. This may be accomplished for example with the features of box  26 .  
     [0027] The PDS  24  also functions to relate comparable products to one another based on an algoryhthm of matching features. It generates a similarity score based on features of the item so users viewing the information can quickly compare two given items similarities and differences. The PDS  24  also maintains and updates mobile shopping assistant user or consumer accounts. As part of the account associated with the MSA, users can select preferences for specific products, enter demographic information as well as other useful data. The account also contains the data generated with the use of the MSA. The stream of data relates to the products scanned and compared and the products scanned and compared and not purchased, as well as the products scanned, compared and purchased. Furthermore, it relates the location of the scanned products to the location of the purchased products. These features may be associated with box  34 .  
     [0028] As a part of the maintaining of user accounts, the PDS may also function as a proxy server to transact remote E-commerce exchanges initiated by the user of the MSA. MSA users can create credit card accounts and passwords and shipping instructions as part of the registration process. It will allow them to purchase products from virtual locations while actively shopping.  
     [0029] The PDS  24  is primarily an internet based server that serves as a relational database. It searches for, manipulates and stores data on products, and is able to search the internet and other resources for products for which it has no data. When the Mobile Shopping Assistant device  10 , illustrated in FIG. 1, user submits data to the price and discount server  24 , the price and discount server  24  initially enters that request in a portion of the database that represents the consumer&#39;s registration data and use history, illustrated by box  34 . It then compares the data submitted by the consumer or user to the stored product information, such as represented by box  32 . The scope of the internal comparison is narrowed based on the association of the GPS location data with the product information request, such as represented by box  30 . The price and discount server  24  also looks for coupons, discounts and rebates on the same product in that specific or nearby locations, such as represented by boxes  28  and  30 . Should the price and discount server  24  find no stored information, it then utilizes the internet search function, represented by box  26 , to scan the internet or other global computer network for information regarding the specific product. The internet search function is continuously active and searches for new information on product pricing and discounts. Once the requested information has been located, it is associated with the user profile and recorded as part of their history for later use in marketing similar products to the user. This data is then transmitted to the user where it may be displayed on the Mobile Shopping Assistant device  10 , illustrated in FIG. 1. While the comparison of products has been illustrated, it should be appreciated that the use of the term products also includes services.  
     [0030]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the method steps or acts of the present invention. Box  42  represents the step of scanning a bar code associated with an item to be purchased. The item may be a product or service. Box  44  represents the step of establishing the global position or location of the item. Box  46  represents the method step of determining the location of available similar items. Box  48  represents the method step of comparing the price, features, location and other information about similar items. Box  50  represents the method step of displaying the information about the similar items to the potential consumer so that the consumer may make an informed purchasing decision. Box  50  represents the method step of recording selected data and use history of the items selected by the potential consumer. Box  54  represents the method step of analyzing the selected data and use history that has been previously recorded so as to better serve the needs of the potential consumer.  
     [0031] Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the present invention may take on a variety of different embodiments using known technologies to accomplish the same purposes as the described embodiments. The present invention provides an improved device and system to permit potential consumers to more quickly and easily identify and locate products or services of interest. The present invention makes possible the rapid comparison of similar products and services in order to find the best pricing or availability for the consumer facilitating the purchasing decision.  
     [0032] Additionally, the present invention provides valuable information related to consumer preferences and choices that may be utilized by marketing entities to better serve the potential consumer.  
     [0033] While several embodiments and configurations have been disclosed and described, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.