METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MARKETING RETAIL GOODS

Abstract

Merchandising and marketing data collection systems (100, 400, 500, 700, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500) collect data on shopper's (816) interaction with merchandise samples (106, 414, 1212, 1400, 1502), page store personnel, output promotional vouchers and use the merchandise samples to access information about the capabilities of the merchandise being sold.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a marketing information collection and merchandizing system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the marketing information collection and merchandizing system shown in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial flowchart of software for the marketing information collection and merchandising system shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 12 and 13;

FIG. 4 is a partial x-ray view of a marketing information collection and merchandising system according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial x-ray view of a marketing information collection and merchandising system according to yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial flowchart of software for the marketing information collection and merchandising system shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 12 and 13;

FIG. 7 is a marketing information collection and merchandising system in according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG.8 is a top view of a user-friendly interface input of the marketing information collection and merchandising system shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the marketing information collection and merchandising system shown in FIG. 7 according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a partial block diagram including an alternative user friendly interface for use in the system shown in FIG. 7-9.

FIG. 11 is a partial flowchart of software for the marketing information collection and merchandising systems shown in FIGS. 7-10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic of a first marketing information collection and merchandising system that uses tether coupled RFID sensors;

FIG. 13 is a schematic of a second marketing information collection and merchandising system that uses tether coupled RFID sensors;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of smart display model device for use in marketing information collection and merchandising systems according to certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of a marketing data acquisition and merchandising system; and

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a merchandising and marketing data acquisition method according to an embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A marketing system comprising: a support for supporting a merchandise sample;a sensor system for sensing a shopper's interaction with the merchandise sample; andan information system coupled to the sensor system, wherein the information system receives input from the sensor system.

2. The marketing system according to claim 1 wherein: the information system comprises a data sink, for logging data about the shopper's interaction with the merchandise sample.

3. The marketing system according to claim 1 wherein: the sensor system comprises a capacitive RFID tag that is adapted to sense the shopper's touching the merchandise sample.

4. The marketing system according to claim 1 wherein the sensor system comprises: a capacitive RFID tag coupled to the merchandise sample; anda capacitive RFID reader for reading the capacitive RFID tag.

5. The marketing system according claim 4 wherein: the capacitive RFID tag comprises a first electrode and a second electrode.

6. The marketing system according to claim 5 wherein: the capacitive RFID reader comprises an RFID integrated circuit coupled between a single electrode and a ground.

7. The marketing system according to claim 4 wherein: the capacitive RFID reader comprises a third electrode and a fourth electrode.

8. The marketing system according to claim 3 wherein the capacitive RFID tag is attached to the merchandise sample, and the sensor system further comprises a conductive tether coupled to the capacitive RFID and coupled to ground.

9. The marketing system according to claim 1 wherein the sensor system comprises: a processor that is programmed to log the shopper's actuation of one or more controls of the merchandise sample and transmit information about the shopper's actuation of the one or more controls to the information system.

10. The marketing system according to claim 1 wherein the information system comprises an output for outputting information about the merchandise sample to the shopper in response to the sensor system sensing the shopper's interaction with the merchandise sample.

11. The marketing system according to claim 1 further comprising a printer coupled to the information system; and wherein the information system is adapted to selectively print a promotional offer on the printer in response to the shopper's interaction with the merchandise sample.

12. A marketing system comprising: a support for supporting a merchandise sample;a sensor system for sensing a shopper's interaction with the merchandise sample; anda communication system coupled to the sensor system, wherein the communication system is adapted to alert a salesperson in response to the shopper's interaction with the merchandise sample.

13. The marketing system according to claim 12 wherein the communication system comprises a wireless paging system.

14. A marketing system comprising: a plurality of machine readable tags attached to a plurality of samples of a plurality of merchandise items being sold;a plurality of reader antennas each of which is marked with a label identifying an information category for the plurality of merchandise items;an information system comprising a processor coupled to the plurality of antennas, and an information output system for outputting information; andwherein the processor is programmed to collect information identifying a particular reader antenna among the plurality of reader antennas that a particular merchandise item is placed proximate to, and information identifying the particular merchandise item that is derived from one of the plurality of machine readable tags; andin response to information identifying the particular reader antenna and the particular merchandise item, the information system is further programmed to output information from a particular information category associated with the particular antenna, that is applicable to the particular merchandise item.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the information output system comprises a display and a loudspeaker.

16. A marketing system electronic devices comprising: a demonstration model electronic device comprising: a sensor for sensing a shopper's interaction with the demonstration model;an information output; anda processor coupled to the sensor and the information output;wherein, the processor is programmed receive input from the sensor indicating the shopper's interaction with the demonstration model and output information through the information output, in response to the shopper's interaction.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein the information output comprises a display of the demonstration model.

18. A method of detecting a shopper's interaction with a merchandise sample, the method comprising: detecting a change in a read/“no-read” state of an RFID reader;comparing a duration of the change in the read/“no-read” state to a predetermined threshold; anddiscarding state change events for which the duration of the change in the read/“no-read” state does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising: comparing the duration of the change in the read/“no-read” state to a predetermined limit; anddiscarding state change events for which the duration of the change in the read/“no-read” state exceeds the predetermined limit.