Patent ID: 7207483

Claim:
A shopping receptacle for facilitating interaction between a user and a computer system, the receptacle being adapted to receive and retain a product item having an interface surface associated therewith, the interface surface having disposed thereon or therein coded data including a plurality of coded data portions, each coded data portion being indicative of the identity of the product item, wherein the receptacle comprises: (a) a receptacle body adapted to receive and retain the product item; and, (b) a sensing device adapted to: (i) sense at least some of the coded data on the interface surface of the product item as the product item is positioned in a sensing region; and, (ii) generate, using the sensed coded data, indicating data indicative of the identity of the product item; and, (iii) transfer the indicating data to the computer system; and, (c) a user interface for facilitating the interaction with the computer system, the interaction being performed using the indicating data, wherein the sensing device is further adapted to transfer data to the computer system which instructs the computer system to: associate the sensing device with the user; and dissociate the sensing device and the user.