Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-12
2004-05-11
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S462450, C235S462440, C235S378000, C235S385000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06732934
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sales system, and in particular to an escorted shopper system.
Sales systems which incorporate portable terminals that are used by the shoppers to record purchases are known.
It has become apparent in retail stores that customers desire improved service, but it is difficult to provide with inexperienced employees and insufficient inventory information available to employees on the sales floor. Moreover, existing systems require the sales person to leave the customer to find out information that the customer seeks, and customers perceive this as poor service.
The main object of the present invention is to improve the known sales systems and to provide an escorted shopper system wherein the salesperson can accompany the customer on the sales floor even when information is being gathered for the customer.
Another object of the present invention is an improved wearable portable terminal which can be used in an escorted shopper system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The escorted shopper system according to the present invention includes a plurality of wearable, portable terminals primarily for use by employees of a retail store and a plurality of stationary terminals. A central database has information relating to the goods to be sold in the store and a wireless network interconnects the portable terminals and the stationary terminals with the central database and each other. The present invention also relates to an improved wearable, portable terminal which can be used in the escorted shopper system according to the present invention.
The escorted shopper system empowers any employee in a retail setting to provide a more personal shopping experience by enabling the employee to escort the customer through every aspect of the shopping trip. Beginning as early as the point of entry in the store and continuing through the points of decision and ending at the point of sale, the employee is able to assist with anything, as well as complete the sale, without ever having to leave the customer. The system according to the present invention provides the platform that enables any store employee to completely follow through with any customer allowing a totally customized shopping experience.
The escorted shopper system in accordance with the invention provides all the necessary tools for dealing with a customer, including sales assistance, communication, transactional capabilities and access to inventory. The present invention consolidates all of these functions into one wearable, portable terminal that can be used by employees as part of the shopper system.
The escorted shopper system according to the present invention can operate in sales mode, inventory mode and transaction mode.
In the sales mode, the escorted shopper system serves as an on the spot resource for the employee, feeding the employee product, policy and/or customer service information as needed. Furthermore, the portable terminal acts as a communication link among employees, ensuring immediate sales or security assistance. In both cases, it eliminates the need for the employee to go to other areas of the store for assistance and leave the customer waiting. The portable terminal and the system provide an open platform for information dispersal and communication among employees, empowering the employees to more effectively and knowledgeably interface with customers. The customer is able to get a running total of chosen items before purchase, have any questions relating to those purchases answered, even by inexperienced employees, and enable the customer to find exactly what the customer is looking for.
In the inventory mode, the portable terminal and system allows an employee remote access to inventory databases, local or otherwise, as well as the ability to contribute to those databases in real time. The employee can actively update the database to insure accuracy. The system can act as a tracking system, not only of the in-store merchandise, but availability anywhere and creates the potential to close sales on merchandise outside the store's premises. Accurate tracking of inventory is extremely important for a retailer and up to the minute data integrity means never having to look in the stock for desired items, since this knowledge is at the employee's fingertips.
In the transactional mode, the terminal and system allows a customer to make a cashless transaction or multiple transactions anywhere in the store. This eliminates the need to wait in line and allows the processing of returns with credit given to an account. The portable units within the system act as a mobile point of sale, allowing an employee to conclude the transaction anywhere in the store.
In accordance with the invention, the escorted shopper system has two main components, the wearable, portable terminal which is worn by all employees and a series of stationary terminals which can be moved to different locations in a store, but are not portable. Both operate within the wireless network setup within the store. The wearable, portable terminal acts as a thin client utilizing wireless transceivers, preferably RF, while the stationary terminals act as an access point for information dissemination. Within the wireless network, employees are enabled to access and contribute to multiple databases remotely. The stationary terminals serve the employee and the customer by being both a mobile point of sale, as well as an informational kiosk and a self-service scanner.
The wearable, portable terminal, because it is connected to the network, has a display which serves as a window into the multiple databases accessible by the network. The employee is always connected to the store's computer and to other employees. The network in accordance with the present invention allows for voice over IP and therefore sales and security assistance can be obtained in real time and independent of physical proximity.
The wearable, portable terminals also preferably have a small laser scanner integrated therein to create the opportunity for cataloging merchandise real time anywhere in the store. A simple scan of the bar code on a tag can reconcile shrinkage and misplaced merchandise, as well as differentiate between sale and regularly priced items.
For transactional capabilities, the portable terminal preferably has a magnetic stripe reader embedded into the housing to allow credit cards to be swiped through the device. Carrying out a cashless transaction can now occur anywhere in the store. The signature and printing of a receipt will be carried out at the stationary terminals.
The stationary terminals can be located in multiple places throughout the store and, although normally stationary, are movable into different configurations within the store.
The stationary terminals can, in a compact configuration, contain only a display, a scanner, a printer, a magnetic stripe reader and peripheral fixtures, such as hanger and bag racks. After the customer's card has been swiped on the sales floor, the information can be relayed to the closest stationary terminal where the receipt is printed. Signature and bagging can take place at the stationary terminal as well. The terminals can also be used to present advertisements or as informational sources for customers, inviting the customers to use them for obtaining information about items within the store. The scanner associated with the stationary terminal, which is preferably an omni-directional scanner, would allow the customers to get a running total of chosen items at the terminal if they so choose. The stationary terminals are preferably not intended to replace point of sale terminals, but in addition thereto.
In one example of the use of the present invention, a sales associate for the retail store arrives at work and punches in an employee identification number into the network and is issued a portable, wearable terminal that is now connected to the storewide wireless network. The device automatically informs the employee of who is working with him and what positions
Hamilton Alistair
Hosmer Christopher
Macgregor Shane
Feller Mitchell S.
Frech Karl D.
Hogan and Hartson LLP
Symbol Technologies Inc.
Walsh Daniel
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