초록 ▼

A system for communicating between a store computer and locations in the les of a retail facility. A hard wired grid connects the store computer to a plurality of transceivers located in zones throughout the facility and the transceivers establish a wireless link to the locations. One embodiment is

A system for communicating between a store computer and locations in the les of a retail facility. A hard wired grid connects the store computer to a plurality of transceivers located in zones throughout the facility and the transceivers establish a wireless link to the locations. One embodiment is a product information display system in which the locations are fixed information display terminals, such as price displaying shelf tags. Another embodiment is an item tracking system, in which the locations are movable shopping carts or baskets.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A communication system for a retail sales establishment comprising:a central store computer;a grid of infrared terminals having different fields of view distributed above the establishment collectively to cover the establishment;hardwired means for coupling the computer t

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A communication system for a retail sales establishment comprising:a central store computer;a grid of infrared terminals having different fields of view distributed above the establishment collectively to cover the establishment;hardwired means for coupling the computer to the grid terminals;a plurality of movable, shopping carts distributed throughout the establishment;a remote infrared terminal mounted on each shopping cart to form an infrared link with the grid terminals;first means for transmitting between the remote terminals and the grid terminals infrared signals including a first address field, the first address field containing the addresses unique to each remote terminal;second means for transmitting between the grid terminals and the computer via the hardwired means electrical signals including the first address field and a second address field, the second address field containing addresses unique to each grid terminal;one or more POS terminals;means for transmitting a shopping cart identification signal including the first address field to the one or more POS terminals at checkout time;means for transmitting product purchase information and the shopping cart identification signal from the one or more POS terminals to the computer; andmeans for programming the computer to process the product purchase information, the first and second addresses, and the shopping cart identification signal to create a purchaser profile file.