Patent ID: 8775260

Claim:
A method of providing product location information within a store, the method comprising: affixing at least a first input device at a first location within the store, so that the first input device is substantially stationary; providing an inventory information unit having a database containing product location information and additional product-related information including product availability information; obtaining a product location inquiry at the first input device, wherein the first input device includes a receiver, and the product location inquiry is a voice signal received by the receiver; processing the product location inquiry at a signal processing device to determine a product location inquiry signal; querying a database to obtain product location information in response to the product location inquiry signal; providing an information signal in response to the product location inquiry signal, the information signal at least sometimes including at least a first portion of the product location information and also depending at least sometimes upon a first portion of the product availability information; and providing an output signal at an output device, the output signal being a response to the product location inquiry, and being based upon the information signal, whereby, when the product availability information indicates that a product is unavailable at a location, the information signal is configured so that the output signal does not provide an indication that the product is available at the location.