Abstract:
A display window ( 10 ) displays items of merchandise in association beacon apparatus ( 22 ). The merchandise is provided in Association with display furniture ( 12 ) that supports the beacon apparatus ( 22 ). The beacon apparatus ( 22 ) is short range and carries ( 24 ) product and location codes ( 28, 30 ) together with app activation codes ( 26 ) that cause the portable device ( 16 ) to activate an app. The app receives all of the beacon information ( 24,26, 28,30 ) and transfer them to an app server which response by providing product outlines to the portable device ( 16 ), that enables selection of an item of merchandise for interaction with the app server. A single short range beacon apparatus ( 22 ) can provide information for a plurality of items of merchandise. The app server stores all of the beacon ( 22 ) location codes and selected product indication codes ( 30 ) as statistical evidence of customer preference. The app server permits purchase of items. The short range radio link is preferably provided by Bluetooth (registered trademark).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and a system suitable for use in association with a retail display. It more particularly relates to keeping tally of visitors who are “window shopping”. It further relates to access to particular selected goods even though the retail outlet may be closed. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is well-known for individuals passing by a retail outlet to indulge in “window shopping”. During times when the retail outlet may be open, the passer by may not have time to enter the retail outlet in response to an item seen in a display window. At other times when the retail outlet may be closed, a passer by may be attracted by an item in the window. 
         [0003]    When an item is on display within a retail store, a customer may not have time to make an enquiry concerning the article which has aroused the interest. 
         [0004]    In order to plan stock levels it is important for a retail outlet operator to learn what items are of interest to the purchasing public. With all probability, under the present provisions, a retail outlet operator is unlikely to learn of the true numbers of persons interested in each article. Whenever a potential customer is prevented from making an enquiry in the retail outlet or from purchasing an item, the operator of the retail outlet will not know of potential customer interest. Such indications of interest are lost. 
         [0005]    European patent application EP2603115 (A1) discloses a mannequin provided with a video camera that is hidden and connected to a processing system capable of determining, for statistical purposes, age, gender and ethnic group of those people who enter the field of action of the video camera. While this European patent application may keep track of the numbers and types of individuals looking into a display window, it lacks the ability to know which item in the display window each observer was in fact interested in. The present invention seeks to provide more definite data. 
         [0006]    International patent application WO2013020146 (A2) discloses a “Virtual Salesman” in the form of a the combination of a virtual mannequin, which is a Plexiglass or any transparent material cut-out, that has a special projection foil stuck on the back which turns it into hi-resolution projection screen. A pre-recorded video of an actor/actress or animated character is then projected onto the cut-out, this creates a lifelike video image. There are speakers for sound, either built into the kiosk or in the booth construction. The Virtual Salesman combines this to a touch screen kiosk or touchscreen with an interface having user selectable options, each option having a moving image and or verbal command associated with the option selected on the touchscreen or touchscreen kiosk. The Virtual Salesman reacts to the option selected on the touchscreen or touchscreen kiosk through visual and verbal recordings on the cut-out virtual mannequin. While that solution may be applicable to this sale an explanation of goods within a retail outlet, the fact that, when window shopping, it would be shielded from sound and/or touch by the display window glass renders it ineffective for a window shopping customer. It also causes the presence of undesirable additional items in a display window that reduces the number of items that can be displayed and may be aesthetically displeasing. The present invention seeks to overcome these problems and even to allow simple purchase during window shopping. 
         [0007]    Another problem that arises when window shopping is the inability to gain more information about items of interest. This would involve, at the very least, guessing an identity for the item of interest, accessing the Internet website relating to the retail outlet, and then searching for and perhaps (and perhaps not) finding the item. The act of window shopping is generally of a casual nature, that is rendered not casual by the processes necessary to discover the identity and the details of an object. There is also uncertainty where the object, if indeed it has been correctly identified, was viewed, if indeed it was not found by an Internet search. The footfall and interest data for the particular retail outlet is thereby confused and rendered most uncertain. The present invention seeks to provide certainty for such data. 
         [0008]    It is known to include transmitting reading devices within a window display mannequin. For example, United States patent U.S. Pat. No. 8,215,552 (B1) discloses a housing for concealing a RFID system is provided including one or more radio frequency antennas, one or more RFID readers, and a central frame. The central frame is attached and concealed within body of a store mannequin providing an exterior shell that is aesthetically pleasing and that can be dressed in store merchandise, thus advertising the store goods and protecting the structure from damage. The reader can receive product data from nearby tags. Numerous other examples are known whereby RFID transmitters and readers are provided in a retail environment. RFID devices are of extremely limited range. They also fail to offer any more than item identifying facilities when, indeed, they can be accessed. The present invention seeks to provide means whereby limited range communication can be provided from display items through the display window to talk to a communication device in the possession of the window shopper. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    According to a first aspect, the present invention consists in a system comprising: 
         [0010]    a short range beacon adapted to be provided in association with an item of merchandise on display; 
         [0011]    a network enabled portable device operable to receive signals from the short range beacon and further operable to execute an app allowing network access; 
         [0012]    an app server within the network operable to respond to input from a portable device; 
         [0013]    where 
         [0014]    the short range beacon is operable to transmit code enabling the portable device to execute the app; 
         [0015]    the portable device is operable to monitor short range signals and further operable to execute the app if enabling code is received; 
         [0016]    and where 
         [0017]    the short range beacon is further operable to transmit code identifying the item of merchandise in association with which it is provided; 
         [0018]    the portable device is operable to receive the merchandise identifying code and to pass the merchandise identifying code to the app server; 
         [0019]    and 
         [0020]    the app server is operable to obtain information concerning the identified merchandise and to provide interaction with the portable device. 
         [0021]    According to a second aspect, the present invention consists in a method comprising the steps of: 
         [0022]    a step of providing a short range beacon in association with an item of merchandise on display; 
         [0023]    a step of providing a network enabled portable device to receive signals from the short range beacon and to execute an app allowing network access; 
         [0024]    a step of providing an app server within the network to respond to input from a portable device; 
         [0025]    including the further steps 
         [0026]    a step of the short range beacon transmitting code enabling the portable device to execute the app; 
         [0027]    a step of the portable device monitoring the short range signals and executing the app if enabling code is received; 
         [0028]    a step of the short range beacon transmitting code identifying the item of merchandise in association with which it is provided; 
         [0029]    a step of the portable device receiving the merchandise identifying code and passing the merchandise identifying code to the app server; 
         [0030]    and 
         [0031]    a step of the app server obtaining information concerning the identified merchandise and providing interaction with the portable device. 
         [0032]    The invention also provides that the short range beacon can also operable to transmit information relating to the location of the short range beacon; and wherein the app server can be operable to store information concerning at least one of: the location of the short range beacon; and the merchandise identifying code. 
         [0033]    The invention also provides that the merchandise can be displayed in a display window. 
         [0034]    The invention also provides display furniture, the merchandise being displayed proximately to the display furniture and the display furniture supporting the short range beacon. 
         [0035]    The invention also provides that the display furniture can comprise at least one of: human form mannequins; one or more portions of human form mannequins; display stands; garments stands; display screens; shelves; and cupboards. 
         [0036]    The invention also provides that the short range beacon can be supported on or in the item of display furniture. 
         [0037]    The invention also provides that the short range beacon can be adapted to be provided in association with a plurality of items of merchandise on display; and that the short range beacon can be operable to transmit code identifying the each of the plurality of items of merchandise in association with which it is provided. 
         [0038]    The invention also provides that there can be a plurality of short range beacons; and that the portable device is operable to receive the merchandise identifying codes from each of the plurality of short range beacons and to pass the merchandise identifying code to the app server. 
         [0039]    The invention also provides that the app server can be operable to provide to the portable device outlines of each of the plurality of items of merchandise in association with which the short range beacon is provided; and that the portable device can be operable to provide plural merchandise item selection indication to the app server. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0040]    The invention is further described, by way of examples, by the following description to be read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0041]      FIG. 1  illustrates one environment in which the present invention can be used. 
           [0042]      FIGS. 2 a  to 2 d    show an exemplary mannequin or mannequin parts with short range beacon. 
           [0043]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary beacon message sent by the beacon apparatus to be received by the portable device. 
           [0044]      FIG. 4  provides an exemplary layout of the contents of a portable device that would fulfil the minimum requirements for use with the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 5  provides an exemplary elaboration of the Internet portion of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary flow chart illustrating possible behaviours of the portable device and the responses of the app server during operation of the invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic representation of the process and architecture of the interaction between the beacon, the mobile device and the remote processing system. 
           [0048]    and 
           [0049]      FIGS. 8 to 14  are possible displays provided on the mobile device during some of the process described in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0050]    Attention is first drawn to  FIG. 1 , illustrating one environment in which the present invention can be used. 
         [0051]    A shop display window  10  displays one or more mannequins and display fitments  12  where on goods offered on sale (not shown) are displayed. Each mannequin and display fitments  12  emits a short range radio beacon signal  14  which can be picked up by a portable device such as a smart phone  16  carried by a passerby as they pass the shop display window  10 . 
         [0052]    The portable device  16  is in turn in bidirectional communication employing, for example, 3G or 4G technology (or any other smart phone wireless technology that may come to be employed) with a cellular mast  18  that provides for the portable device to enjoy bidirectional communication with the Internet. 
         [0053]    Attention is next dawn to  FIG. 2 a   , showing an exemplary mannequin. The mannequin  12  is provided with a beacon apparatus  22  that continuously emits a signal, which as will be shown later, can selectably activate a portable device  16  activation signal that can activate an “App” within the portable device  16  to interact with the items shown in  FIG. 1 . An “app” is, throughout the present description, defined as a selectably activatable gateway computer program that can initiate communication with and interact with Internet items such as servers and databases that relate to the information provided by the beacon apparatus  22 . 
         [0054]    The beacon apparatus  22  is preferably contained within an aperture within the mannequin  12 , and is preferably closable so as not to disturb the outline of the mannequin  12 . The overall mannequin  12  is preferably manufactured from nonconductive materials that allow through passage of radio signals provided by the beacon apparatus  22 . Different mannequins  12  can have the beacon apparatus  22  provided at apertures on different parts of the mannequin  12  dependently upon what sort of garments a particular mannequin  12  is intended to display. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 2 b   , the mannequin may be formed of lower body section  50  and a separable upper body section (not here shown), which join at the waist, the lower body section having an upwardly pointing pin  42  located approximately at the centre of the upper surface  41  of the lower body section  50 . A compartment  46  for housing the beacon  22  is conveniently located to one side of the pin  42 , with a cover  47  which may be screwed down or otherwise secured to close the opening of the compartment  46  in the upper surface  41 . The securement of the cover is ideally tamperproof, for example security screws may be used, or some locking means. 
         [0056]    An upper body section is then placed upon the lower body section  50 , with the pin  42  locating in a corresponding socket on the upper body section. This further secures the beacon  22  in the compartment  46 , as the cover  47  is not accessible without dismantling the mannequin. 
         [0057]    The mannequin is predominantly composed of plastic, fibre-glass or other composite material that is substantially transparent to radio frequencies, so as to not interfere with the broadcast signal. Metal parts in the mannequin are kept to a minimum and situation away from the compartment, in order to avoid interference or attenuation, and non-metallic finishes or paints are used on the mannequin. 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 2 d   , the compartment that houses the beacon  22  in a full body mannequin  52  is oriented so that the beacon&#39;s signal is principally broadcast in a region between an upper transmission beam  54 ′ and a lower transmission beam  54 ″ (in three dimensions, these beams will be conic), with the strongest signal usually being in a horizontal plane (indicated by line  54 ) and with minimal transmission along the vertical axis of the mannequin. In this instance, the compartment is aligned essentially along the mannequin&#39;s longitudinal axis. This positioning and orientation has been found to optimise the signal strength available to consumers holding a mobile device while walking in a store, or outside a window where the mannequin is displayed. 
         [0059]    For a full body mannequin, it has been found that positioning the beacon in the waist gives an optimal signal strength allow a reasonable signal in the range of 2 m to 10 m. Beacons positioned closer to the head or to the feet were subject to attenuation, believed to have been caused by the structure of the mannequin head and the reinforcement components in feet of the mannequin. Further, the transmission regions  55 ,  56  from the feet and the head are vertically displaced from the usually region that a consumer would be holding their portable device  16 . 
         [0060]    Where the display form is not a full body mannequin but a mannequin part, other locations must be provided for the beacon. For example, referring to  FIG. 2 c   , where the mannequin is a torso  51 , the compartment  46  for the beacon may conveniently be located at the back of the torso in the lumbar region, with the cover  47  opening on the back surface. Here, the mannequin is design to be displayed in a prone position, so the compartment is oriented along the sagittal axis. 
         [0061]    A beacon could also be housed other partial mannequins, such as individual heads, arms, or legs, the opening of the compartment for the beacon conveniently being situated on the flat surface. 
         [0062]    The beacon apparatus  22  can be powered by battery, or by a concealed power cord. The short range radio signals are preferably short range Bluetooth (registered trademark) signals, but are not limited thereto and can comprise any short range radio signal capable of carrying beacon information and of being received and deciphered by the portable device  16 . 
         [0063]    Ideally, the beacon is a Bluetooth low energy device. Such a device can transmit a signal while powered by a battery that does not require replacement or maintenance for several years. This eliminates unsightly power cords, which limit the transportability and siting of the mannequin, while providing a useful signal broadcast range. The efficiency of the Bluetooth low energy device allows a small and lightweight battery to be used, so that the mannequin remains lightweight and portable. 
         [0064]    A beacon apparatus  22  is hereinbefore and hereinafter defined as a radio transmitting apparatus that operates on a continual basis emitting beacon singles either repeatedly without break or at regular intervals, without requirement for any other radio frequency field to be applied. 
         [0065]    Beacons are thus unlike RFID devices, where an interrogating device requires to apply an external radio frequency field to activate the RFID device. The beacon apparatus  22  offers the technical advantage that monitoring alone is sufficient to ensure reception. 
         [0066]    The present invention is not restricted to mannequins  12 , but can also include display stands of all sorts and styles adapted to display an extensive library of different types of goods. All that is required is for a beacon apparatus  22  to be provided in association with goods on display. 
         [0067]    Although items of merchandise on display are shown in a display window  10 , it is to be understood that the invention also extends to use for items displayed within a store or facility where a passerby can carry a portable device  16  to a position within the store approximate to the beacon apparatus  22  deployed in association with items of display merchandise. 
         [0068]    Although  FIG. 2  shows the beacon apparatus  22  being concealed within an aperture on the mannequin  12 , it is to be understood that many different manners of attachment of a beacon apparatus  22  are accommodated by the present invention. The beacon apparatus  22  can be attached, for example, on the exterior of a display item by attachment bands, studs or similar items. Equally, the beacon apparatus may be attached on the outside of a display stand away from the shop window  10  so that passers-by will not see the beacon apparatus  22 . Another alternative, where the item on sale itself provides concealment, such as a bag or rucksack, the beacon apparatus  22  can be placed there in. The different items of merchandise and beacon apparatus  22  support are hereafter referred to as display furniture. 
         [0069]    Attention is next drawn to  FIG. 3 , showing an exemplary beacon message  24  sent by the beacon apparatus  22  to be received by the portable device  16 . 
         [0070]    An app activating portion  24  carries code that can be recognised by the output in the portable device  16 . If the app activation code is contained within the app activation portion  26  of the beacon message, the app activates and commences communication and interaction with the Internet portions shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0071]    A display window location indicating portion  28  contains a unique code that identifies which display shop window  10  the short range beacon apparatus  22  occupied. The code contained within the display window location indicating portion  28  can uniquely indicate a store, or a face of a store, or a particular window within a store. When used by the app and its associated Internet  20  features, it provides the unique location being viewed by the passerby. 
         [0072]    A merchandise identifier portion  30  provides a unique identifying code for identifying the particular item of merchandise with which the beacon apparatus  22  is associated. When passed on by the portable device  16  to the associated Internet  20  features accessed by the app, the particular goods are identified. 
         [0073]    When a portable device  16  is activated by receiving an app activating portion  26  on the short range radio signals  14 , it is unlikely that there will be only one beacon apparatus  22  located within the display shop window  10 . 
         [0074]    A beacon apparatus, in one alternative, can be made to provide merchandise identification for more than one item of displayed merchandise by providing further merchandise identifier portions  30 ′  30 ″ that can be sent through the app activated portable device  16  to the associated Internet  20  features accessed by the app. 
         [0075]    As a further alternative, only a single beacon apparatus  22  need be provided within the display shop window  10 , sending a beacon message  24  containing a separate merchandise identifier portion  30   30 ′  30 ″ for each item of merchandise on display in the display shop window  10 . 
         [0076]    Attention is next drawn to  FIG. 4 , an exemplary layout of the contents of a portable device  16  that would fulfil the minimum requirements for use with the present invention. 
         [0077]    The portable device  16  comprises a portable device processor  32  having memory comprising an app program  34 . A display screen  36  displays operations of the portable device  16  processor  32  and can also act as an input pointing device for the portable device processor  32 . A portable device memory  38  provides the necessary memory capacity for operating the portable device processor  32 . A short range receiver  40  is operable to receive signals from the beacon apparatus  22 . A wireless communication transceiver  42  enables bidirectional communication between the portable device  16  and the cellular mast  18  to access the Internet  20 . 
         [0078]    Attention is next drawn to  FIG. 5 , an elaboration of the Internet  20  portion of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0079]    One or more portable devices  16  from one or more locations can bidirectionally couple to an app server  44 . The app server  44  exists in a cloud relationship with various other Internet  20  entities. 
         [0080]    A database  46  stores all the information relating to display sites and their locations, merchandize identification indicators  30 , and the related Internet information for each indicated merchandise identifier  30 . 
         [0081]    An SKD server  48  also cooperates with the app server  44  and the database  46 . An administrator web portal  50  allows access to one or more administrator clients  52 . A display web portal  54  allows access to one or more display clients  56 . Third-party application software  58  is also available. 
         [0082]    The elements  46 - 58  all co-operate and assist in enabling the app server  44  to respond to a portable device  16 . 
         [0083]    Attention is next drawn to  FIG. 6 , an exemplary flow chart illustrating possible behaviours of the portable device  16  and the responses of the app server  44  during operation of the invention. 
         [0084]    In  FIG. 6 , the operations of the portable device  16  are shown to the left of broken vertical line  60  and operation of the app server  44  are shown to the right of vertical broken line  60 . 
         [0085]    From a start  62  a first operation  64  has the portable device  16  continuously monitoring the short range receiver  40  to determine whether and app activation portion  26  is being received. The first operation  64  continues to monitor the short range receiver  40  until a first test  66  detects that an app activating portion  26  of beacon message  24  has been received. 
         [0086]    A second operation  68  then activates the App in the portable device and contacts the app server  44 . The portable device  16  gathers all of the one or more beacon messages  24  which it receives and sends the whole lot to the app server  44 . 
         [0087]    The downloaded beacon messages may specify one or more different items of merchandise. In a third operation  70  the app server  44  receives the beacon messages, retrieves outlines of the specified items of merchandise, and sends the merchandise outlines to the portable device  60 . 
         [0088]    The portable device  16 , in a fourth operation  72 , displays the merchandise outlines on the portable device  16  display screen  36  and awaits the user to make a selection of one or more of the one or more items specified in the collection of beacon messages  24 . 
         [0089]    When a second test  74  detects that the user has made a selection, a fifth operation sends indication of the selected item (s) of interest to a sixth operation  78  in the app server  44 . The sixth operation  78  as the app server  44  obtain comprehensive details of the selected items of merchandise. The sixth operation  78  also notes and stores the contents of the one or more beacon messages  24  relating to the selected items of merchandise so that a record can be established and maintained of the results of window shopping visits. The sixth operation  78  then sends the retrieved selected merchandise details to a seventh operation  82  in the portable device  16 . 
         [0090]    The seventh operation  82  as the portable device  16  display the selected one or more items of merchandise that are of interest. 
         [0091]    If the third test  84  finds that the user of the portable device  16  desires to buy a selected item of merchandise, an eighth operation  86  has the app server  44  conduct the sale. The eighth operation also notes that the sale has been made because of window shopping and the identity of the item and its location and circumstances are recorded. 
         [0092]    If the third test  84  finds that the use of the portable device  16  does not desire to purchase a selected item of merchandise, the third test  84  passes operation to an exit  88  and the portable device  16  closes contact with the app server  44  and returns to the first operation  64 . 
         [0093]    The flowchart of  FIG. 6  is given merely by way of example. Those skilled in the art will be aware that there are many variations and modifications that can be applied without deviating from the invention as claimed. 
         [0094]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , in another embodiment of the process, the beacon emits a unique code  90 . As previously described, this may include identifies relating to the products associated with the mannequin, and a store identifier, but it may simply be a unique ID associated with that particular mannequin and beacon, registered with the system. 
         [0095]    A mobile device belonging to a user such as a potential purchasers is continually scanning for signals at the relevant frequency, and checking the format of signals it receives. When it receives the signal from being emitted by the beacon  90 , it alerts the user by generating a message on the mobile device, allowing the user to authorise the interactive application (here designated the ‘Iconeme app’)  91 . The user may then confirm the launch of the application  92 . 
         [0096]    The mobile device then connects to web portal, whose resources may be distributed on remote servers (i.e. a cloud portal)  93 , and interrogates a network of cloud based servers and databases  94  for information and instructions relating to the registered beacon ID. Confirmation or interrogation feedback may be provided in a manner invisible to the user, to complete this step. 
         [0097]    Either as part of the initial interaction, or immediately afterwards, the cloud portal can send customised messages (based either on the mannequin or the location of the mannequin) to the user to be displayed on the mobile device. For example, messages welcoming the user to the store or a particular section or department may be provided. 
         [0098]    The cloud portal  94  may be maintained and updated by an administer  97 , particular in terms of the functionality provided, while the content will largely be maintained by the providers of the stores and products  105  who can access at least portions of the cloud portal in order to update and change data, in particular what data is to be provided with a particular beacon  106 . 
         [0099]    Once the beacon ID has been identified, a message may be sent back to mobile device. The beacon ID will have associated with it specific data such as the products currently being displayed on the mannequin, as well as the store and location data, retrieved by the cloud based portal services  94 . In particular, the cloud based server portal  94  can offer a push notification  104 , such as an advert, special offer or other discount  109  shown in  FIG. 9 , associated with the mannequin, though other data may also be used to determine which push notification is displayed, such as specific user data that the app may supply to the cloud based server portal  94 . 
         [0100]    One of the important functions of the app that either occurs automatically or on prompting by the user, is that the products currently being displayed by the mannequin are then shown  96  to the user on the portable device. 
         [0101]    Where the mobile device is within range of several mannequin beacons and receives a unique ID from each mannequin beacon, the records associated with each beacon can be retreived and displayed, as shown in  FIG. 8  where the products are displayed on four mannequins  108 ,  108 ′,  108 ″,  108 ′″ shown on the display screen  110  of the user&#39;s portable device. 
         [0102]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , one or more of the display screens of the app may include a set of icons  112  which perform particular functions, including an icon allowing the user to save a particular product or group of products  99  for later retrieval and comparison. Another icon may provide a means for the user to communicate  103  his interest to friends through social media, such as posting a notification on platforms such as Facebook (registered trade mark) and Twitter (registered trade mark) together with links to the product concerned. 
         [0103]    Whenever one or more products  108  are being displayed, the user has the ability to bring up  98  the details  113  associated with of a group of products  108  as shown in  FIG. 11 , or display  101  the details  115  for a single product  108  alone as shown in  FIG. 12 . Where a groups of products for each mannequin is displayed as in figure  8 , the user may chose a particular mannequin product group  108 ,  108 ′,  108 ″,  108 ′″ and then explore each item on the mannequin. 
         [0104]    Generally, whenever a product or products is being displayed, a simple means of navigating to a virtual check-out area  115  is provided  100 , whether to buy a single selected product, or a list of products saved in a basket. 
         [0105]    Since the mannequin ID can be used to identify the store in which it is being displayed, when the user is interested in a particular product, they can request  102  that its location in the store is shown, and the cloud based portal services  94  can retrieve this for the app to display to the user  116 . 
         [0106]    It is to be appreciated that the invention has he been described by way of example relating to display of garments, and other items of general clothing interest. It may also be applied to related items such as jewellery and accessories such as handbags, and other items that may be displayed on or around mannequins. 
         [0107]    In fact, the invention can be applied to this sale and expression of interest in any field of sale or retail, including all fields of endeavour where an item may be placed in a display window on offer for sale. 
         [0108]    The invention has been described, so far, in terms of items of merchandise on display in a display window  10 . It is to be understood that the invention also extends to use for items displayed within a store or facility where a passerby can carry a portable device  16  to a position within the store approximate to the beacon apparatus  22  deployed in association with items of display merchandise. 
         [0109]    The invention is further more precisely defined by the following appended claims.