Patent ID: 7010498

Claim:
A method for providing a location of products to a customer in a retail environment, said method comprising the steps of: attaching a product locator unit to a shopping aid that is utilized within said retail environment, said product locator unit having an access point for entering a customer ID, a storage location for electronically storing a list of customer desired products, an infra red (IR) receiver that receives IR signals with localized product information at specific locations in which said IR signal is broadcasted, a program algorithm for comparing said localized product information with product identifiers (IDs) of said customer desired products, and, a signaling mechanism for alerting said customer to a location of a desired product, said location being identified by said received IR signal; and enabling in-shopping signaling to said customer of the presence of a desired product when said customer is in the vicinity of said desired product, wherein said signaling is completed responsive to a (1) receipt of an IR signal at a particular location by the IR receiver of the product locator unit; and (2) correct matching of the ID of said desired product with said localized product information within said IR signal received.