The Smart Shopper is a handheld wireless retail platform that assists shoppers with product information, itemization and payment. The Smart Shopper can be configured such that, upon entering a store, a patron can checkout a handheld unit with their membership card. Once a Smart Shopper is matched with a customer, preferences can be tracked and information from the store database can be displayed upon request. After scanning a product or searching through a list of inventory, a request for product attributes can be made. Attributes associated with products can be accessed remotely in a language suitable to the patron. Essentially, the Smart Shopper is a superior personal shopping assistant with an infallible memory and multilingual capabilities. Once a product is identified and information is delivered, itemization and checkout can be accomplished remotely, without spending time in a queue. Smart Shopper provides timely support throughout the three phases of the shopping experience, gathering, itemization, and checkout.

Technology

Input
The Smart Shopper handheld unit receives primary input via an optical scanner, a magnetic stripe reader and or an RFID antenna. Prototype 1 was demonstrated with an optical scanner. Primary inputs initiated by the store patron prompt the store's database for feedback. Once feedback is communicated results are displayed. Secondary inputs from the user are received at the user interface, which is either a touch screen or a keypad. Secondary inputs allow the necessary information from the database to be accessed and displayed after the primary transaction has occurred.

Database Interaction

After getting the input information the Smart Shopper sends a wireless signal through the internal microcomputer to the central database server where the user information or necessary product information can be accessed. This wireless communication can be accomplished through a number of methods. Prototype 1 used micro computers with Pico radios to provide the wireless data transfer. This data transfer may also occur with RF technology or a local wireless network. Examples of database returns are product specifications, product cost, cost comparisons, alternative products, past purchases, the variation of the price in the last three months, essentially any information the store demes useful to the patron. In addition to providing the patron with attributes, Smart Shopper would allow for the tracking of customer habits, which enables retail stores to deploy algorithms to streamline the patron experience.

Feedback

The stores database responds to requests for attribute information. The requested information is then transformed into wireless signals and sent back to the Smart Shopper where the customers can obtain the information through an integrated LCD screen or a wireless earphone.