CA2256386A1 - Product selection system - Google Patents
Product selection system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2256386A1 CA2256386A1 CA002256386A CA2256386A CA2256386A1 CA 2256386 A1 CA2256386 A1 CA 2256386A1 CA 002256386 A CA002256386 A CA 002256386A CA 2256386 A CA2256386 A CA 2256386A CA 2256386 A1 CA2256386 A1 CA 2256386A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- product
- user
- database
- customer
- interest
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A90/00—Technologies having an indirect contribution to adaptation to climate change
- Y02A90/10—Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
Abstract
A product selection system for advising a user whether or not to purchase a product such as a food product includes a product database (200) comprising data on a plurality of products, a hand-held barcode reader (106) for identifying a product, and processing means (206) for identifying whether the product has one or more user selected characteristics of the product. The characteristics may include the method of treatment or manufacture of the product, distance the product has travelled from origin, place of origin, politics of the region of origin, type of labour used in manufacture or production, details of the manufacturer or supplier, health risks, public health warnings associated with the product, special offers and the like.
Description
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
PRODUCT SELECTION SYSTEM
rhe present invention relates to a product selection system for use~ for example, in supermarkets and the like.
Supermarket customers are today presented with an enormous range of different food products. For many of the products on sale, such as fresh vegetables, fish, and meat, the content and nature of the food is obvious and easy to identify. If a person is allergic or simply wishes to avoid these types of foods, this can be done easily.
Many food producers now include a nutritional information table on the packaging, in anticipation of a legal requirement or for commercial réasons. All the tables contain four basic items of information. The first is normally the number of calories in each 1 00g portion, followed by the amount of fat, the amount of protein and the amount of carbohydrate. Since each figure is provided in grams per 100g portion, the customer can compare the figures directly with other products. The nutritional information provided can then be used by customers to count the calories they are buying for dieting or for medical conditions, and/or reduce their intake of individual items such as saturated fat or salt.
Systems are known for informing a user of the ingredient content of a product. However, prior art systems are either limited in their use by being limited to the information given to the user or may be expensive, bulky or impractical due to the amount of memory space required to store information on many products.
US-A-5478989 discloses a system for generating personalised nutritional information which includes means for inputting personal data relating to an individual, a barcode reader for inputting data identifying at least one food product, a processor for correlating the personal data with prestored nutritional data pertinent to the food product, and means for outputting information to the person based on the correlation. The prestored nutritional data may include information relating to allergy warnings, pesticide levels and the names of individual stores which carry the foods.
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
la US-A-4780599 discloses the use of a hand-held barcode reading device to retrieve product information for users. FR-A-'70' 58 . discloses the use of a hand-held barcode reader which is used to make purchasing decisions based on the price of selected products.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved product selection system.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a product selection system for advising a user whether or not to purchase a product, including a product database comprising product data on a plurality of products, product selection means for selecting a particular product listed in the database, user preference means for deterrnining user preferences l~ased on selected characteristics of the product, wherein the product data includes predeterrnined characteristics of each product, one or more of said characteristics being unrelated to the ingredient content of a product.
.~I\/IEN~ED SHEET
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
In an embodiment~ the product characteristics include one or more of: method of treatment or manufacture. distance product has travelled from origin, place of origin~
politics of region of origin~ type of labour used in manufacture or production. details of manufacturer or supplier. health risks, public health warnings associated with the product, special offers.
Preferably, tlle system is arranged to make a decision tor a user as whether or not to purchase a selected product. The system may include means to explain to a user the reasons for the decision based upon selected product characleristics.
In the preterred embodiment. the sys~em includes a central processing station comprising the product database and one or more mobile user devices. The or each user device is preferably hand-held.
Advantageously, the or each user device is programmable by the central processing station so as to contain a part ot the product database relevant only to an identified user.
The reader may include barcode reading means for identifying a selected product from a barcode thereon. The reader may additionally or alternatively be provided with reading means for reading a product identifier other thall a barcode. Such identifiers may be a code. the product name. a number or any other suitable identifier.
In an embodiment. the system includes user monitorin~ means tor monitoring products considered for purchase by a user.
According to another aspect of the present invention. there is provided a user portable device for advising a user whether or not to purchase a product, including product identifying means for identifying a product to be tested. a database of product characteristics, means for comparing the characteristics of an identified product with user selected characteristics and means for advising a user whether or not to purchase the product on the basis of said determination~ wherein the database includes only data deemed relevant for the particular user.
CA 022~6386 1998-ll-2~
WO 97t46960 PCT/GB97/01169 According to another aspect of the present invention. there is provided a method of advising a user whether or not to purchase a product. including the steps of determining user preferences by selection of one or more product characteristics. identifying a product selected by the user on the basis of a product identifier. determining whether the product includes one or more of the user selected product characteristics from a product database including one or more product characteristics unrelated to the ingredient content of a product. and notit'yhlg the user of the results ot the determination.
There are customers who wish to buy these types of foods. but they may avoid the food product altogether. tor political or lifestyle reasons. simply because information on the product is not readily available ro them at the poinl ot selection. Examples of Ihese types of customers interests. amongst others. are:-~ Chemically treated produce, ~ The number of miles the food has travelled, ~ The politics of the country of origin.
~ The use ot' child labour.
~ Blacklisted companies.
~ Foods avoided t'or religious reasons, ~ Public health warnings, such as recent concerns over eggs and British beef, ~ Special offers.
In addition to these basic tvpes ot toods. there is an ever hlcreasing number ot'processed and treated foods which are available today. where it is difficult for customers to identify quickly any individual concerns they mav have over a product. This may be due to the f'act that the int'ormation is simply not on the packaging, or it is listed by an unt-amiliar name.
Food producers are obliged by law to list the ingredients of a packaged food product on the packaging of the product in descending order of weight. Since there are presently no legal requirements to list the amount of any ingredient in a product~ it is difficult for people who restrict their consumption of certain ingredients to purchase these foods with any confidence. Moreover, there is no legal requirement for listing ingredients for CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
alcoholic beverages (wine. beer etc.~ which can also contain colourings and preservatives. Food additives are referred to by their E number or by chemical or common name. some of which may mean very little to the average cuslomer.
It is also accepted that food producers will use their food packaging to sell the product, and unless there is a commercial or goodwill reason for highlighting a customer concern. such as low calorie foods. organic produce etc., it is unlikely to be placed on the packaging hl a prominent position. the text is often in a small character size. and due to the different size and shapes of the packaging, the information may be difficult to find.
The present invention can cater for such situations and ean thus provide a system which is more useful.
An embodiment of the presen[ invelltioll is described below by way of example only, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of hand-held scanner and database;
Figure ' is a schematic flow chart of a simple version of product selection system:
Figures 3 to 5 are schematic diagrams of embodiments of overall system intended for use in food supermarkets:
Figure 6 is an embodiments of the principal components of a central processing system;
Figures 7 to 11 are examples of software items for both the central proeessing system of Figure 6 and for the hand-held reader of Figure 1.
The examples of system described below are intended to use machine readable identifiers on food products and the like in order to determine predefined ingredients of the food products on a shop shelf and other aspects of the products, such as origin, ... . . . . ... . . ...
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
s method of manufacture and the like. The system is ideal ~or use by customers andorganic~tions interested in identifving calorific values. potential allergic reaction, diabelic problems and so on. The pret'erred embodiments have been primarily designed for use at the point of selection of t'ood products in supermarkets~ where customers can find out quickly whether a t'ood product sought to be purchased contains ingredients which may cause harm or which it is wished to avoid for lifestyle or special dietary reasons.
It will be apparent that the system could be adapted t'or other applications and is therefore not limited to food products.
Ret'erring to Figure 1. the example ot' scanner and database system 10 shown is intended for use by a customer in a supermar~er or the like. The system is used to determine and warn of chosen ingredients which the user should or should not consume. as is described in further detail below.
In the embodiment shown~ the system lO is designed ~o operate on the basis of barcodes provided on packaged foods. For this purpose. the system 10 includes a barcode scanner 12, shown only in schematic form, which is able to read the barcodes on food products under the control of a control system (not shown). such as a microprocessor.
Since food products are barcoded on the basis of the European Article Numbering System, such as EAN13 and E~AN8 or a derivative thereof. the actual product can be identified from the barcode~ irrespective of the shop or food m~nuf~turer.
The system includes a database (not showl1) which is accessed on the basis of the barcodes. The ~:~t~hace includes, in the preferred embodiment, a description of the product, for assisting the user, and data relating to the ingredients of the food product.
The database may include all the ingredients of each product or only those most likely to be of interest to the user, such as those causing known allergies, those not suitable for people with certain illnesses such as diabetes, and those having "unacceptable" calorific value or fat content. The ingredient data could be stored as code designators which are translated into their actual ingredients for versions where the actual ingredients are CA 022s6386 1998-11-2S
notified to the user.
The system 10 could also or in the alternative provide for ingredients which the user should consume. for example for dietary reasons. These may. for example. be iron for a user suffering from anaemia.
For either purpose. the system may be set to take into account ingredient quantities rather than just ingredien~ presellce.
The nature and possible content of the database are described in further detail below.
The system 10 is provided wirh an illpUI Ullit 14. which may be ot any suitable form.
such as an alpha/numeric l;ey pad. A display 16 is also provided. which again may be of any suitable form such as a liquid crystal display or equivalent. The display 16 provides data input information and results of the determination of a particular food product.
Additionally or alternatively. the system 10 may hlclude an acoustic indicator such as a loudspeaker or buzzer to h~orm the user of the results of its determination of a food product. Similarly. instead ot' displaying the results on a display such as the display 16.
the system 10 may be provided with any other suirable visual hldicator. such as one or more LEDs.
An example of method by which the system of Figure I may operate is shown in Figure 2. This is a simple implementation and the reader is referred to the more detailed example described below.
In summary, in the method of Figure 2, the control and processing unit within the system decodes the barcode, looks up the appropriate database record and displays or otherwise indicates to the user. by an acoustic or visual indicator, whether it is safe or wise for the user to purchase that food product. For programming purposes, the display 16 may provide an "entry" screen which prompts the current user to identify any allergy CA 022',6386 1998-11-2', for which the system 10 is to check. any calorific or similar parameter which the user requires and/or any other ingredient of which the user wants to be warned. In the case where the system is to be used by a plurality of users. the system can be reprogrammed by each user or the system 10 can include a memory (not shown) in which can be stored the relevant ingredient data for a plurality of users. for subsequent retrieval by means of an identification number or code.
In an alternative embodiment. data input for a user may be by means of a separate personal computer whicll can be linked to the syslem 10.
The u~arning given by the system 10 could be a simple yes/no warning or more specific int'ormation as to the particular ~ood product, tor example quantity of the ingredient in the product. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the system 10 is designed to give a simple yes or no indication as to the existence of the ingredient in the food product tested and calorific data.
Thus. the system has inputted therein details of the user's t'ood requirements or preferences. The user is then able to scan any product containing an EAN barcode or a derivative thereof, at which point the system's software will check the ingredient database ~or anv condition t'ound that has been earlier inputted by the user, and report to the user in either visible and/or audible form that the scanned product contains one or more ingredients which it is inadvisable to consume based on the pre-programmed conditions.
The software within the system 10 will advise the user of any product containing'unacceptable' ingredients to the user and the system may be capable of printing a hard copy version of all products selected and/or the total calorific value of the products selected.
In the specific example of Figure 2, the user has programmed into the system 10 an ailergy to nuts. When the barcode of the food product having barcode 5012345555559 is scanned, the control and processing unit of system 10 ~rGrSses the database at a CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
WO 97146960 PCT/GB97/Oli69 location equivalent tO barcode 5012345555559, at which the database has ingredient codes A Q, W and a calorific value t'or the product of 500 (preferably normalised to a predetermined product quantity). In this example. ingredient code A ret'ers to nuts~ so the system 10 displays on display 16 the message "Nut Allergy - No Purchase .~dvised" .
It is envisaged that the sample system described above would be used in other applications, for example to warn the user of particular ingredients, nature or origin of a product.
It will be apparent that althougll the system 10 would normally be software controlled. it could be designed primarily on the basis of hardware components.
Figures 3 to 11 give more detailed examples. which include additional features of the preferred embodiments.
The examples described below provide a system to complement any dietary or avoidance plan by giving a customer the ability to check any individual product in a supermarket against their special interests to see if it contains ingredients or amounts which are inadvisable to purchase. It can also be used to make requests for more information on any of the products in the supermarket. This can be achieved while the customer is walking around the shop using a product identifier system such as that shown in Figure 1.
Summary of System Operation Before using tlle system for the first time, the customer must be registered. for example through a loyalty scheme with the supermarket, to provide their personal details, and to identify uniquely that persom Registration is preferably by computer data input, in which the customer is provided with a number of computer screens to describe special interests such as allergy details. dietary wishes or requirements. religious dietary requirements, political preferences, food manut'acturing preferences, food origin ~ . ... . . . . .
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
preferences and so on. Supermarket staff could. alternatively enter such data either with the customer or at a later point in time.
(i) Step 1 Once the customer has been registered. they can collect a scanner from a centrallocation in the sllop. At the central location~ they will be asked to swipe or insert their account card into a magnetic strip reader. which Will identify the customer trom the account number on the magnetic strip of tile card. Once the number is received, the main system software will download product information trom a central computer to the scanner for the customer's use. Only product details which fall within the interests of that customer will be downloaded to the scanner with the account number of the customer. It will be appreciated that other methods of identifying a customer could be provided.
(ii) Step 2 The customer simply scans the barcode of the product of interest as he/she progresses ~through the shop. Once the barcode has been scanned. the scanner will check theproduct details held in it's memory to see if it is listed in the customer's predefined interests. If it is not~ the scanner will log that it has read the product barcode, and report to the customer that no relevant information is available. If identified, the scanner will report to the customer in either visible or audible form if it is inadvisable to purchase the product because it contains ingredient(s) Whicll they have identified to avoid, or if the product is not desired for any other reasom The scanner is designed to explain~ for example by means of scrolling text, the interest that was found and any ingredient amounts required.
(iii) Step 3 The scanner is then returned to the central location point. The scanner can then be uploaded to inform a central processing system who has returned the scanner, the list of products sç~nnf d by that person and the day's date. Once the scanner has been returned to the central system. the customer can leave or pass to a point in the shop to obtain more information on the products scanned. Supermarkets can provide this information CA 022~6386 1998-ll-2~
through dedicated computers and printers. or by appending the information to receipts printed at the checkout.
Systems Overview The tollowing overviews introduce the preterred designs of central processing system and of programminglaccess methods in terms of the connection between producl components. the use of equipment and the interaction with people. Tl1e relationships are shown as the product may be used h1 three different implementation plans shown in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive.
1. Stand-alone Centr~l Client Systen1 In the first implementatiom showl1 in Figure 3~ the supermarket chooses to implement the system on stand-alone computer equipment~ with little or no direct connection to other computer equipment or other database sottware. This may be because only mainframe lechnology is deployed in shops. with little or no PC connectivity.
At the location of the supermarket's nutritional expert~ a central processing system is installed on a stand-alone computer 100. The computer 100 will have a version of the sottware and the computer database t'iles required to maintain the tood product details~ a complete list of customer interests. tl1e layout and design ot a CUSIomer questionnaire.
Communicalion with other computers will be made by tile transter. Although floppy diskettes are shown for file transfer. any of the other established methods of file transfer may be employed by the supermarket company. One method which may be used is transfer through existing mini-frame links between shops.
At each shop, one or more client versions 102 of the central processing system are installed in a central location on computers of a similar type to the one used by the nutritional experts. In addition to the use of the keyboard and pointing devices used by the nutritional expert, the client version supports the use of magnetic strip readers for customer account cards or loyalty cards, and connection to mounted barcode readers.
wo 97/46960 PcT/Gs97/0ll69 Il At both the location of the nutritional expert~ and the central location in a shop.
supermarket staff can modify tlle set-up of the software. and view or edit the database information through a series of visual display screens in the client version 102. Access to these screens may be restricled by password. and the use of a keyboard, Supermarket staff can then address queries made by customers and edit their customer interests immediately.
Aiternatively, when a customer enters the shop and swipes their customer account card through one of the readers 104 in a shop. a visual display and pointing device can be used to select their OWIl customer interests. the first time they use the sys~em. This Involves ~he validation of the card. followed by check to see if they have used the system before. If it is the tirst time. the client version presents a number of questions on a visual display t'or the customer to select with the pointhlg device.
Once they have selected at least one customer interest. the client version 102 of the central processing system will select a docked barcode reader 1()6. and download to the reader's memory, the products that are of interest to that cuslomer only. This reduces the list of products so it will fit on the amount of memory on the reader. and reduces the initial download time. After preparing the products of interest for the customer for the first time. the software employs techniques to store and maintain permanentlv the list tor the next time the customer uses the system.
Once treed from it's docking statiom the barcode reader 106 uses loaded software to respond to any barcode read by the customer. and no further interaction is required by the client version of the central processing system until the barcode reader 106 is returned to one of a plurality of docking stations.
When the barcode reader 106 is returned to a docking station, the client versionsoftware will receive the list of products scanned by the customer, for analysis within the supermarket~ and for immediate reference should the customer have any queries. A
further function can be provided in the software to print a detailed report of the nutritional information and customer interests associated with the products scanned by a CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
WO 97~46960 PCT/GB97/01169 customer.
2. Networked Central Client System In the next example of system, shown in Figure 4~ the supermarket chooses to implement client versions 10, on computers connecled together in a local area network in the shop. Each client version shares the same database files for processing customer requests in the shop. Connection to a central database site or other sites is administered outside of the system. In this implementation~ the extraction of information from system files~ and the import of information into it's files~ is pertormed as part of a scheduled batch process by other application software used in the shop.
PRODUCT SELECTION SYSTEM
rhe present invention relates to a product selection system for use~ for example, in supermarkets and the like.
Supermarket customers are today presented with an enormous range of different food products. For many of the products on sale, such as fresh vegetables, fish, and meat, the content and nature of the food is obvious and easy to identify. If a person is allergic or simply wishes to avoid these types of foods, this can be done easily.
Many food producers now include a nutritional information table on the packaging, in anticipation of a legal requirement or for commercial réasons. All the tables contain four basic items of information. The first is normally the number of calories in each 1 00g portion, followed by the amount of fat, the amount of protein and the amount of carbohydrate. Since each figure is provided in grams per 100g portion, the customer can compare the figures directly with other products. The nutritional information provided can then be used by customers to count the calories they are buying for dieting or for medical conditions, and/or reduce their intake of individual items such as saturated fat or salt.
Systems are known for informing a user of the ingredient content of a product. However, prior art systems are either limited in their use by being limited to the information given to the user or may be expensive, bulky or impractical due to the amount of memory space required to store information on many products.
US-A-5478989 discloses a system for generating personalised nutritional information which includes means for inputting personal data relating to an individual, a barcode reader for inputting data identifying at least one food product, a processor for correlating the personal data with prestored nutritional data pertinent to the food product, and means for outputting information to the person based on the correlation. The prestored nutritional data may include information relating to allergy warnings, pesticide levels and the names of individual stores which carry the foods.
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
la US-A-4780599 discloses the use of a hand-held barcode reading device to retrieve product information for users. FR-A-'70' 58 . discloses the use of a hand-held barcode reader which is used to make purchasing decisions based on the price of selected products.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved product selection system.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a product selection system for advising a user whether or not to purchase a product, including a product database comprising product data on a plurality of products, product selection means for selecting a particular product listed in the database, user preference means for deterrnining user preferences l~ased on selected characteristics of the product, wherein the product data includes predeterrnined characteristics of each product, one or more of said characteristics being unrelated to the ingredient content of a product.
.~I\/IEN~ED SHEET
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
In an embodiment~ the product characteristics include one or more of: method of treatment or manufacture. distance product has travelled from origin, place of origin~
politics of region of origin~ type of labour used in manufacture or production. details of manufacturer or supplier. health risks, public health warnings associated with the product, special offers.
Preferably, tlle system is arranged to make a decision tor a user as whether or not to purchase a selected product. The system may include means to explain to a user the reasons for the decision based upon selected product characleristics.
In the preterred embodiment. the sys~em includes a central processing station comprising the product database and one or more mobile user devices. The or each user device is preferably hand-held.
Advantageously, the or each user device is programmable by the central processing station so as to contain a part ot the product database relevant only to an identified user.
The reader may include barcode reading means for identifying a selected product from a barcode thereon. The reader may additionally or alternatively be provided with reading means for reading a product identifier other thall a barcode. Such identifiers may be a code. the product name. a number or any other suitable identifier.
In an embodiment. the system includes user monitorin~ means tor monitoring products considered for purchase by a user.
According to another aspect of the present invention. there is provided a user portable device for advising a user whether or not to purchase a product, including product identifying means for identifying a product to be tested. a database of product characteristics, means for comparing the characteristics of an identified product with user selected characteristics and means for advising a user whether or not to purchase the product on the basis of said determination~ wherein the database includes only data deemed relevant for the particular user.
CA 022~6386 1998-ll-2~
WO 97t46960 PCT/GB97/01169 According to another aspect of the present invention. there is provided a method of advising a user whether or not to purchase a product. including the steps of determining user preferences by selection of one or more product characteristics. identifying a product selected by the user on the basis of a product identifier. determining whether the product includes one or more of the user selected product characteristics from a product database including one or more product characteristics unrelated to the ingredient content of a product. and notit'yhlg the user of the results ot the determination.
There are customers who wish to buy these types of foods. but they may avoid the food product altogether. tor political or lifestyle reasons. simply because information on the product is not readily available ro them at the poinl ot selection. Examples of Ihese types of customers interests. amongst others. are:-~ Chemically treated produce, ~ The number of miles the food has travelled, ~ The politics of the country of origin.
~ The use ot' child labour.
~ Blacklisted companies.
~ Foods avoided t'or religious reasons, ~ Public health warnings, such as recent concerns over eggs and British beef, ~ Special offers.
In addition to these basic tvpes ot toods. there is an ever hlcreasing number ot'processed and treated foods which are available today. where it is difficult for customers to identify quickly any individual concerns they mav have over a product. This may be due to the f'act that the int'ormation is simply not on the packaging, or it is listed by an unt-amiliar name.
Food producers are obliged by law to list the ingredients of a packaged food product on the packaging of the product in descending order of weight. Since there are presently no legal requirements to list the amount of any ingredient in a product~ it is difficult for people who restrict their consumption of certain ingredients to purchase these foods with any confidence. Moreover, there is no legal requirement for listing ingredients for CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
alcoholic beverages (wine. beer etc.~ which can also contain colourings and preservatives. Food additives are referred to by their E number or by chemical or common name. some of which may mean very little to the average cuslomer.
It is also accepted that food producers will use their food packaging to sell the product, and unless there is a commercial or goodwill reason for highlighting a customer concern. such as low calorie foods. organic produce etc., it is unlikely to be placed on the packaging hl a prominent position. the text is often in a small character size. and due to the different size and shapes of the packaging, the information may be difficult to find.
The present invention can cater for such situations and ean thus provide a system which is more useful.
An embodiment of the presen[ invelltioll is described below by way of example only, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of hand-held scanner and database;
Figure ' is a schematic flow chart of a simple version of product selection system:
Figures 3 to 5 are schematic diagrams of embodiments of overall system intended for use in food supermarkets:
Figure 6 is an embodiments of the principal components of a central processing system;
Figures 7 to 11 are examples of software items for both the central proeessing system of Figure 6 and for the hand-held reader of Figure 1.
The examples of system described below are intended to use machine readable identifiers on food products and the like in order to determine predefined ingredients of the food products on a shop shelf and other aspects of the products, such as origin, ... . . . . ... . . ...
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
s method of manufacture and the like. The system is ideal ~or use by customers andorganic~tions interested in identifving calorific values. potential allergic reaction, diabelic problems and so on. The pret'erred embodiments have been primarily designed for use at the point of selection of t'ood products in supermarkets~ where customers can find out quickly whether a t'ood product sought to be purchased contains ingredients which may cause harm or which it is wished to avoid for lifestyle or special dietary reasons.
It will be apparent that the system could be adapted t'or other applications and is therefore not limited to food products.
Ret'erring to Figure 1. the example ot' scanner and database system 10 shown is intended for use by a customer in a supermar~er or the like. The system is used to determine and warn of chosen ingredients which the user should or should not consume. as is described in further detail below.
In the embodiment shown~ the system lO is designed ~o operate on the basis of barcodes provided on packaged foods. For this purpose. the system 10 includes a barcode scanner 12, shown only in schematic form, which is able to read the barcodes on food products under the control of a control system (not shown). such as a microprocessor.
Since food products are barcoded on the basis of the European Article Numbering System, such as EAN13 and E~AN8 or a derivative thereof. the actual product can be identified from the barcode~ irrespective of the shop or food m~nuf~turer.
The system includes a database (not showl1) which is accessed on the basis of the barcodes. The ~:~t~hace includes, in the preferred embodiment, a description of the product, for assisting the user, and data relating to the ingredients of the food product.
The database may include all the ingredients of each product or only those most likely to be of interest to the user, such as those causing known allergies, those not suitable for people with certain illnesses such as diabetes, and those having "unacceptable" calorific value or fat content. The ingredient data could be stored as code designators which are translated into their actual ingredients for versions where the actual ingredients are CA 022s6386 1998-11-2S
notified to the user.
The system 10 could also or in the alternative provide for ingredients which the user should consume. for example for dietary reasons. These may. for example. be iron for a user suffering from anaemia.
For either purpose. the system may be set to take into account ingredient quantities rather than just ingredien~ presellce.
The nature and possible content of the database are described in further detail below.
The system 10 is provided wirh an illpUI Ullit 14. which may be ot any suitable form.
such as an alpha/numeric l;ey pad. A display 16 is also provided. which again may be of any suitable form such as a liquid crystal display or equivalent. The display 16 provides data input information and results of the determination of a particular food product.
Additionally or alternatively. the system 10 may hlclude an acoustic indicator such as a loudspeaker or buzzer to h~orm the user of the results of its determination of a food product. Similarly. instead ot' displaying the results on a display such as the display 16.
the system 10 may be provided with any other suirable visual hldicator. such as one or more LEDs.
An example of method by which the system of Figure I may operate is shown in Figure 2. This is a simple implementation and the reader is referred to the more detailed example described below.
In summary, in the method of Figure 2, the control and processing unit within the system decodes the barcode, looks up the appropriate database record and displays or otherwise indicates to the user. by an acoustic or visual indicator, whether it is safe or wise for the user to purchase that food product. For programming purposes, the display 16 may provide an "entry" screen which prompts the current user to identify any allergy CA 022',6386 1998-11-2', for which the system 10 is to check. any calorific or similar parameter which the user requires and/or any other ingredient of which the user wants to be warned. In the case where the system is to be used by a plurality of users. the system can be reprogrammed by each user or the system 10 can include a memory (not shown) in which can be stored the relevant ingredient data for a plurality of users. for subsequent retrieval by means of an identification number or code.
In an alternative embodiment. data input for a user may be by means of a separate personal computer whicll can be linked to the syslem 10.
The u~arning given by the system 10 could be a simple yes/no warning or more specific int'ormation as to the particular ~ood product, tor example quantity of the ingredient in the product. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the system 10 is designed to give a simple yes or no indication as to the existence of the ingredient in the food product tested and calorific data.
Thus. the system has inputted therein details of the user's t'ood requirements or preferences. The user is then able to scan any product containing an EAN barcode or a derivative thereof, at which point the system's software will check the ingredient database ~or anv condition t'ound that has been earlier inputted by the user, and report to the user in either visible and/or audible form that the scanned product contains one or more ingredients which it is inadvisable to consume based on the pre-programmed conditions.
The software within the system 10 will advise the user of any product containing'unacceptable' ingredients to the user and the system may be capable of printing a hard copy version of all products selected and/or the total calorific value of the products selected.
In the specific example of Figure 2, the user has programmed into the system 10 an ailergy to nuts. When the barcode of the food product having barcode 5012345555559 is scanned, the control and processing unit of system 10 ~rGrSses the database at a CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
WO 97146960 PCT/GB97/Oli69 location equivalent tO barcode 5012345555559, at which the database has ingredient codes A Q, W and a calorific value t'or the product of 500 (preferably normalised to a predetermined product quantity). In this example. ingredient code A ret'ers to nuts~ so the system 10 displays on display 16 the message "Nut Allergy - No Purchase .~dvised" .
It is envisaged that the sample system described above would be used in other applications, for example to warn the user of particular ingredients, nature or origin of a product.
It will be apparent that althougll the system 10 would normally be software controlled. it could be designed primarily on the basis of hardware components.
Figures 3 to 11 give more detailed examples. which include additional features of the preferred embodiments.
The examples described below provide a system to complement any dietary or avoidance plan by giving a customer the ability to check any individual product in a supermarket against their special interests to see if it contains ingredients or amounts which are inadvisable to purchase. It can also be used to make requests for more information on any of the products in the supermarket. This can be achieved while the customer is walking around the shop using a product identifier system such as that shown in Figure 1.
Summary of System Operation Before using tlle system for the first time, the customer must be registered. for example through a loyalty scheme with the supermarket, to provide their personal details, and to identify uniquely that persom Registration is preferably by computer data input, in which the customer is provided with a number of computer screens to describe special interests such as allergy details. dietary wishes or requirements. religious dietary requirements, political preferences, food manut'acturing preferences, food origin ~ . ... . . . . .
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
preferences and so on. Supermarket staff could. alternatively enter such data either with the customer or at a later point in time.
(i) Step 1 Once the customer has been registered. they can collect a scanner from a centrallocation in the sllop. At the central location~ they will be asked to swipe or insert their account card into a magnetic strip reader. which Will identify the customer trom the account number on the magnetic strip of tile card. Once the number is received, the main system software will download product information trom a central computer to the scanner for the customer's use. Only product details which fall within the interests of that customer will be downloaded to the scanner with the account number of the customer. It will be appreciated that other methods of identifying a customer could be provided.
(ii) Step 2 The customer simply scans the barcode of the product of interest as he/she progresses ~through the shop. Once the barcode has been scanned. the scanner will check theproduct details held in it's memory to see if it is listed in the customer's predefined interests. If it is not~ the scanner will log that it has read the product barcode, and report to the customer that no relevant information is available. If identified, the scanner will report to the customer in either visible or audible form if it is inadvisable to purchase the product because it contains ingredient(s) Whicll they have identified to avoid, or if the product is not desired for any other reasom The scanner is designed to explain~ for example by means of scrolling text, the interest that was found and any ingredient amounts required.
(iii) Step 3 The scanner is then returned to the central location point. The scanner can then be uploaded to inform a central processing system who has returned the scanner, the list of products sç~nnf d by that person and the day's date. Once the scanner has been returned to the central system. the customer can leave or pass to a point in the shop to obtain more information on the products scanned. Supermarkets can provide this information CA 022~6386 1998-ll-2~
through dedicated computers and printers. or by appending the information to receipts printed at the checkout.
Systems Overview The tollowing overviews introduce the preterred designs of central processing system and of programminglaccess methods in terms of the connection between producl components. the use of equipment and the interaction with people. Tl1e relationships are shown as the product may be used h1 three different implementation plans shown in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive.
1. Stand-alone Centr~l Client Systen1 In the first implementatiom showl1 in Figure 3~ the supermarket chooses to implement the system on stand-alone computer equipment~ with little or no direct connection to other computer equipment or other database sottware. This may be because only mainframe lechnology is deployed in shops. with little or no PC connectivity.
At the location of the supermarket's nutritional expert~ a central processing system is installed on a stand-alone computer 100. The computer 100 will have a version of the sottware and the computer database t'iles required to maintain the tood product details~ a complete list of customer interests. tl1e layout and design ot a CUSIomer questionnaire.
Communicalion with other computers will be made by tile transter. Although floppy diskettes are shown for file transfer. any of the other established methods of file transfer may be employed by the supermarket company. One method which may be used is transfer through existing mini-frame links between shops.
At each shop, one or more client versions 102 of the central processing system are installed in a central location on computers of a similar type to the one used by the nutritional experts. In addition to the use of the keyboard and pointing devices used by the nutritional expert, the client version supports the use of magnetic strip readers for customer account cards or loyalty cards, and connection to mounted barcode readers.
wo 97/46960 PcT/Gs97/0ll69 Il At both the location of the nutritional expert~ and the central location in a shop.
supermarket staff can modify tlle set-up of the software. and view or edit the database information through a series of visual display screens in the client version 102. Access to these screens may be restricled by password. and the use of a keyboard, Supermarket staff can then address queries made by customers and edit their customer interests immediately.
Aiternatively, when a customer enters the shop and swipes their customer account card through one of the readers 104 in a shop. a visual display and pointing device can be used to select their OWIl customer interests. the first time they use the sys~em. This Involves ~he validation of the card. followed by check to see if they have used the system before. If it is the tirst time. the client version presents a number of questions on a visual display t'or the customer to select with the pointhlg device.
Once they have selected at least one customer interest. the client version 102 of the central processing system will select a docked barcode reader 1()6. and download to the reader's memory, the products that are of interest to that cuslomer only. This reduces the list of products so it will fit on the amount of memory on the reader. and reduces the initial download time. After preparing the products of interest for the customer for the first time. the software employs techniques to store and maintain permanentlv the list tor the next time the customer uses the system.
Once treed from it's docking statiom the barcode reader 106 uses loaded software to respond to any barcode read by the customer. and no further interaction is required by the client version of the central processing system until the barcode reader 106 is returned to one of a plurality of docking stations.
When the barcode reader 106 is returned to a docking station, the client versionsoftware will receive the list of products scanned by the customer, for analysis within the supermarket~ and for immediate reference should the customer have any queries. A
further function can be provided in the software to print a detailed report of the nutritional information and customer interests associated with the products scanned by a CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
WO 97~46960 PCT/GB97/01169 customer.
2. Networked Central Client System In the next example of system, shown in Figure 4~ the supermarket chooses to implement client versions 10, on computers connecled together in a local area network in the shop. Each client version shares the same database files for processing customer requests in the shop. Connection to a central database site or other sites is administered outside of the system. In this implementation~ the extraction of information from system files~ and the import of information into it's files~ is pertormed as part of a scheduled batch process by other application software used in the shop.
3. Server System In the third example. shown in Figure 5. the supermarket chooses to implement client versions 102" on computers connected together in a local area network. Each local area network in a shop is also conllected to other local area networks by dial-up phone access or by dedicated lease lines. Client/Server software is alreadv deployed to manage the transfer of data trom one site to another. In this case~ a server version 102" is installed on an application server in the shop, to send and receive hlformation automatically between sites~ and to maintain the d~t~b~e files in the shop for other client versions or components. Known advanced database file replication techniques can be used to distribute information. if Oracle'TM' or latest versions of Microsoft SQL Server ~TM) are deploved.
Product Component Design The individual product components of the preferred embodiment can be stated with their role and relationship between each other. Reference is made to the block diagram of Figure 6 which shows the principal product components.
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
Wo 97/46960 PcT/Gss7/01169 (1) Database Manager 200 Software provides permanenl records of customer interests, product details and software settings for fast and quick access at critical points in the use of the system.
l'his product component is used by the nutritional experts in the supermarket company to set-up the information in the first place, and to maintain the information when required. It provides the set-up of access rights to the information for other staff using the system~ since security may be an important issue tor the supermarket company. It also provides the set-up ot' database parameters for the support of different database file formats and methods ot' access expected by each supermarket company.
It is envisaged that the product component will consist ot a number ot' visual look-up ~ b~ce tables, with selection buttons on screen to view, edit or delete individual records in each of the tables. In one of the displayed forms~ the operator is able to select the type of database file format for the tables, the OEM parameters for accessing the files, and the system passwords which provide functional access.
In addition to the visual t'orms. there will also be a librarv of t'unctioll calls to read and write the database int'ormation to and trom other producI component sot'tware. In this way, each other product component does not need to know the specific details of the database tables used. and challges made to the database structure will only need to be carried out in this Product Component.
When a customer uses the system for the first time. a sequence of visual forms may be used so that the customer can select their human interests. This product component will also provide tor the set-up and layout of the forms displayed to the customer, since the content of the forms will be decided by the supermarket company.
In the design of the database, special care is taken not to limit the number of human interests which may be stored against a product and the number of human interests that the customer can select, moreover the supermarket is able to define the human interests and specific order of displayed interests in the database without cause to change the CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
software. Each human inleres~ can contaill a range value or values to be displaved to the customer.
The term "human interests" is intended to denote more than just product ingredients, For example~ the range of human hlterests for a particular customer may include allergies to one or more particular food ingredients. desire to avoid or have particular ingredients or type of ingrediell~ such as carbohydrates. tats~ sugars and the like. It may also include foods prepared according to certain religious or other dietary criteria, such as Kosher. vegetarian. vegall toods and the like. ' Lifestyle" interests may include foods of particular origim production methods. t-oods which are the subjecl of health questions such as salmonella or BSE. The intentioll. thus. is to provide more than just an indication ot composirion of the food product bv ingredients.
Care is taken in the design o f the database to optimise the speed of retrieval of product details at the point of download to the barcode reader 1()6. Given the potential t-or international sales of the svstelll. the method used to store text in the database makes it easy to provide informatioll tor multi-language display in all product components.
In order to use the application database manager ~00. the operator is provided with a keyboard and pointing device. or access to the in~ormatioll through another product component Informatioll stored using this product compollent will be in proprietar~
database file format. or Windows (rM! configuratioll file format (.INI files). When a member of staff runs the client or server version of the sys~em. this product component will be loaded into computer memory. readv ~or use. More specific details of theDatabase Manager are given below.
(ii) Device Manager 202 Software provides the set-up of hardware/software component parameters for the smooth implementation of the system with different expected requirements for barcode readers, magnetic card readers, computers. visual displays, ~)linLe~ andoperating systems. Although a Windows (T~l) operating system will provide direct CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
Wo 97/46960 PcTlGss7loll69 support for many computer devices, special software may be needed to manage the communication and set-up of barcode and magnetic card readers. using for example the ASYNC Plus 2 (TM) software library (produced by Turbopower Software Company, 4775 Centinnal Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO 80919. U.S.A.).
It would also be advisable to provide functions within this product component torecognise automatically all the devices on the workslation/server. and to record their details~ so that this can be provided to other product components which require the same information. It is envisaged that the device manager 202 will consist of a number of visual forms which list the devices on the workstation/server and their settings. When experiencing problems witll a device. an operator can use this product component to adjust the settings of the device in the list displayed to resolve them. It will also provide the front screen for the system from wllicll an operator can start all other product components residing on the same computer. It also manages the processingtime given to each of the product components.
In order to access the device manager '02 settings. the operator is provided with a keyboard and pointing device. and an appropriate password provided by the ~l~t~h~ce manager 200.
When a member of supermarket staff runs the client/server version 102 of the central processing system, this product component is loaded into computer memory, it displays the visual front screen to the system and it loads the database manager 200 intocomputer memory.
(iii) D~ Q~1 Manager 204 Software is provided to manage the interaction of the customer with the system at the point of entry into the system and at the point of return of the barcode reader 106.
When a customer enters into the system, the dataload manager 204 validates a customer's account number, passed to it by a magnetic card reader, decide whether to present the customer with a questionnaire, if it is the first time he/she has entered into .
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
the system~ and subsequently manages the download of product details to the barcode reader 106, ready to take around the shop.
When the customer returns a barcode reader 106 to a cradle or dock of the systemdocking statiom the dataload manager 204 manages the transt'er of the product codes scanned by the customer to the database manager 200~ so that a permanent record can be made of the entries made by the cuslomer. for any queries tlle customer may have and for market research purposes. Eacl1 time. the dataload manager 204 receives an entry from a customer, the customer account number is used to identify the use of a specific barcode reader 106~ so that at the point of return, the dataload manager knows which customer is returnin the barcode reader 106. In this way. a list of current barcode readers 106 in use can be maintained in the dataload manager 204, and the syslem can cope with the use ot' more than one device in the Si10p.
Tl1e dataload manager 204 calls the database manager 200 and device manager 202 to perform database access and device communication. In this way~ the dataload manager will be device independent. and should the database or devices change. then the dataload manager 204 will not need to be changed. It is envisaged that the dataload manager will consist of a number of entry forms for multi-language display and filling in a questionnaire. and the dispiay of account card recognition. download progress and any background marketing int'ormation required for promotions on a visual display unit.
While waiting for cuslomers to fill-in questionnaires. or displaying marketing information~ the dataload manager 204 will monitor barcode reader returns, and upload the product codes scanned by the customer using calls through the device manager 202.
It will then write the information to database tables with the customer account number using the database manager 200.
Both the filling-in of the questionnaire and the display of progress and the like are options which can be switched-off. This allows dedicated network computers to be used for the dataload manager 204, and other network computers to be used just for entering and displaying information. It is envisaged that these options can be decided per .... .. ...
CA 022s6386 1998-11-2S
installed copy of the system in the device manager against the visual display parameter options. In order to use the dataload manager 204~ the operator will require a magnetic card reader and a barcode reader. A pointing device will be required IO start the dataload manager. and to use the vlsual display elements. if they are switched on.
The dataload manager 204 is not loaded into computer memory until selected by the operator from the front screen displayed by the device manager 20'.
(iv) Barcode Reader Program 206 In order IO drive the barcode readers 106. a specific program is provided for each unit.
The program resides on the barcode reader 106. with the purpose of managing the download and upload ot data to the device manager of the system. Using the program on the reader. the customer can scan product barcodes, and tind out whether the products are inad~isable to purchase givell their human interests. or ~hat their is no relevant information ~or the products. Although the system has been designed to highlightallergies. special diets and litestyle choices. the supermarket may define manv other topics of interest such as special offers and the like. When human hlterests are t'ound for a scanned product. the program 206 scrolls the text for interests in the display of the barcode reader. until the customer performs another action on the reader. An initial audible tone is given it' available on the reader 106 when a selected product isinadvisable .
In order for the program 206 to provide product information to the customer, it stores in the barcode reader memory a product item file, and just the details of those products which are of interest to the customer. In this way, the amount of memory used is reduced to a minimum. Further use of a file containing all the text to be displayed in a specified language reduces the amount of memory used. and the two techniques combined alsoreduce the time taken to download information into the barcode reader 106.
When the barcode reader 106 is returned to a cradle~ the program 206 will upload the product codes scanned to the device manager 202 software running a connected .. ..
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
computer. In order to keep a track of who is USillg which reader. the customer account number is downloaded and uploaded with product information by the program and the device manager 202. The program 206 is aulomatically started when the barcode reader 106 is turned-om and after the barcode reader operating system is loaded.
~v) Data Transfer Module This componellt manages the tlow of hlformatioll to and from external database sources of hlforma~ioll. It is recoglllse~ that tor mally supermarkels. there is already nutrilional information and product item details stored and maintained in other computer systems.
In the initial sel-up of database informatioll. and thereat'ter to lesser extent, it is envisaged that software is required to import and update product and customer information electronically.
The Data Transfer Module '0~ provides visual display t'orms to the operator to define the layout ot information in external data sources to the system. It also provides the ability to schedule the import of this intormatiom Likewise. the module can use the same layouts to schedule the export of information from the database files maintained by the system. When an import or export job is defined by the operator, the Data Transfer Module 208 writes the job details to the contiguration file of the device manager '02 component.
At the appointed time of a data transfer job, the device manager 202 component will call functions in the fl~t~h~e manager 200 to import or export the information required. As the dataload manager 204 may be loaded at the same tlme~ the device manager 202 carries out primary tasks in the dataload manager 204 t'irst until sufficient processing time is available to carry out an individual record read or write. In this way, data transfer jobs do not adversely effect dataloading to and from the barcode readers 106.
Connectivity to remote sites and all data sources are provided by the operating and networlcing software which the computer has loaded. Initially, selective criteria for imports and exports will be defined externally to the Data Transfer Module 208 by the ~ . , CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
source or target application software.
In order to use the Data Transfer Module 208, the operator is provided with a keyboard and pointing device with the appropriate password provided by the Database Manager 200.
Database Manager, Practical ~xample The Database Manager of the preferred embodiment maintains all the fl~t~b~se files used by the system and provides a number of visual forms on screen for an operator tomaintain the files. It allows the operator to design the layout of a customer questionnaire displayed on the screen when customers enter into the system for the first time. Using the questionnaire~ the customer can select the food products he/she wishes to avoid. Tlle Database Manager 200 also provides all the functions to the othersoftware components described above to access and maintain database files and special formatted files used in downloading customer interests to barcode readers.
The preferred relational database structure maintained by the Database Manager 200, shown in Figure 7, allows direct access to any number of interests associated with a customer, and any number of interests associated to a product. In this way, the Database Manager 200 can retrieve the products which a customer is interested given the customer identification (typically a customer account number).
Figure 7 shows six database files used in this embodiment to maintain the relationship between customer~ product and interest details. In each master file. an item is only reterenced once by a unique key. In the case of the consumer master 300 file, each consumer registered in the system will be uniquely identified by an account number, and by a second key the consumer name is used to search for the consumer when required.
Against the consumer account number and name are fields which store the consumeraddress and any other personal details required by a supermarket to identify that person.
A Customer Interest Detail file 302 is used to store all the human interests for each CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
individual listed in the Customer Master File 300. The Database Manager 200 finds all human interests in the Customer Interest Detail file by finding the first customer inlerest with the customer account number and reading all the following records with the same customer account number. Shlce the customer account number is an indexed key in the detail file 302, all the human interests for a person will be sorted together in sequence to provide fast retrieval.
In the Product Master file 304. all the food products listed in the database are identified by unique product codes used in the supermarket. This is preferably the same code as the barcode used on the food product packaging. The Product Interest Detail file 306 lists all the human interests associated with each individual product. As one of the indexed keys t'or the detail t'ile 306 is the product code. the Database Manager 200 retrieves all the human interests t'or a product by findhlg the tirst one with a product code value~ and reading the tollowing records until the product code value changes.
Againsl each in~erest record for a product~ a value can be stored for comparision.
Central to the database structure is the Interest Master file 308. The Interest Master file 308 stores a limited but large number of unique human interests by a short numeric code. For each interest stored in the file~ the user can store range values for comparision with actual product values for the same hlterest. There is also a field to store Ihe section where the human interest appears in the customer questionnaire. A
short description is used to look up a human interest~ rather than search for it by the short numeric code. A human interest can be any item ot' interest to the customer~ it can be a range value. a specific ingredient. a range of ingredients. or a lifestyle choice.
As a human interest is stored in the Master file 300~ the same numeric code and description is stored in another Master file~ the Phrase Master file 310.
The Phrase Master file 310 is used to display all text required in the system including human interest information. A Phrase Master file 310 is maintained for each language required in the system. The numeric codes are the same in each of the Phrase files 310, the only difference being that the text is translated for each language. In this way, the text displayed in the system can be changed for each language by closing the current CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
WO 97t46960 PCT/GB97/01169 Phrase Master file 310. and opening the Phrase Master file for that langua~e.
For example. if it is wished to slore the phrase yellow liquid' in the Phrase file 310.
The English Phrase Master file 310 may contain a unique number value I to identify the phrase text 'yellow liquid'. To display the t'rench equivalent of 'yellow liquid>. there will be a French Phrase Master t'ile 310 which contains a record with the unique number value I and the translated phrase text for 'yellow liquid'. the words liquide jaune~.
Since both the English and Frencll Phrase Master files would refer to the phrase with the same unique key number. the system can display Englisl1 or French text by accessing the files with the same key number value.
Database Preparation Before any customer registratiol1 in the system. nutritional experts in the supermarket company will need to setup the Human Interest Master file 308, the Product Master file 304~ the Product Interest Detail file 306. the Phrase Master files 310 for the languages required for interest descriptions and any other text displayed on screen. and the layout design of the customer questionnaire. In order to achieve this simply and to use existing computer information wherever possible. the Database Manager 200 has visual entry forms and functions based around the following recommended approach:-1. Type in all new human interests intended for use in the system. The Database Manager 200 will thell automatically generate the unique numeric code for each interest and create the corresponding phrases in the Phrase files 310 from the typed description given t'or each interest.
2. Design the layout of the customer questionnaire based on the human interests created. This will involve the selection of section titles, text displayed on the questionnaire and the selection of the order of the human interests in the sections.
3. Load the food product records in the Product Master file 304 from the supermarket product item file using the Data Transfer Module 208, descri~ed above.
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
~2 4. Load the product details containing human interests using the same Data Transter Module 208. or type the interests that apply to each product using the Database Manager 200. This applies to new human interests which may be created. once the database is in use.
Once these 4 steps have been achieved the database will be ready to receive new customer reglslrations. The specific design ot database fullctiolls are described nexl in this section.
Database functions In the evellt that there is a major challge to the Food Product Database 304~ such as new humall inlerests or new products are introduced inlo the database. or a customer wishes to question the information ,~resented by the system. or wishes to change interest selections. the Database Manager 200 provides visual entrv screens for manual update of the human interests~ product details and customer details which may be used by staff in the supermarket company. This may be limited to access to the customer questionnaire for staff in the shop, or full access to the database files tor use by nutritional experts.
In additiom automated processes may be used hl the Database Manager 200 to maintain reterential integrity between related database files. and to distribute database changes to other sites using the database.
There are relationships whicll need to be maintained between the Customer Master file 300, the Customer Interest Detail file 302, the Interest Master file 308. the Product Master file 304 and the Product Interest Detail file 306.
Record Deletions Referential integrity will only be broken when a deletion occurs, as the Database Manager 200 automatically generates the numeric codes for interest Id's, and all other critical keys are protected from change by the Database Manager 200. In the event that CA 022~6386 1998-ll-2~
the supermarket wish to delete details from the database~ the Database Manager 200 must also perform deletes from the following records :-Type of delete l~equired Automatic Delete Actions:
Delete a Customer Delete all customer interest detail records matching customer code, Delete all customer product detail records matching customer code.
Delete customer master record Delete a Product Delete all product interest detail records matching producl code.
Delete all customer product detail records matching product code.
Delete a Human Interest Delete all customer interesl detail records matching interes[ Id., Delete all product h~terest detail records matching interest Id., Delete phrase record matching interest Id. in each phrase language file, Delete human interest master record.
New Records With the exception of new customer registration, which is a specific database function,the Database Manager 200 performs a number of additions to the database files as follows: -Type of Addition Required Automatic Add Actions:
Add a new Food Product Validate product code Add product master record Add product interest detail records Add a new human interest Validate 4uestionnaire section ..~
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
Validate range values Add interest master record Add phrase master records In order for a food product to be added to the database, a valid product code as used in the supermarket company is used. An external validation routine will be called by the Database Manager 200 to check the product code. At the same time as the product master fields are filled-in, the operator can select the human interests associated with the product from the interest master file. The selected number of product interests will only be limited by the number of human interests which are available.
Whell the operator decides. the Database Manager 200 writes the product master record to the Product Master file 304~ and writes each of the human interests selected as an individual record to the Product Interest Detail file 306.
In order for a new human interest to be added. The Database Manager 200 generates the next unique interest number by retrieving the first record in the Interest Master file 308, and adding one to it, Immediately, if there already exists a record in the Interest Master file 308 with the same number, it will add one to interest number and attempt to add the record again to the Interest Master file 308. The Database Manager 200 continues to repeat the exercise, until it has successfully srored the new interest master record with a unique number. This ensures that no other Database Manager versionrunning at the same time will clash with the current process.
Once the master record is stored, the Database Manager 200 uses the same interest number to add a record to each of the phrase language files used by the supermarket.
The phrase text is taken from the description typed by the expert for the human interest.
If range values are selected for the human interest, the Database Manager 200 stores a reference to a unit phrase already stored in the Phrase Master files 310. If the expert types new unit text for the interest which does not exist in the Phrase Master files 310, the Database Manager 200 generates a unique phrase number to store the unit text, and CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
'S
it references the phrase number used in the interest master record. An example of unit text will be 'grams per 100 grams'.
New Customer registration At the point when a new customer is registered into the system~ the Customer Master file 300 fields are filled in for the customer, and a customer questionnaire displays on a visual display with the current human interests listed in the Interest Master ~lle. This is shown in Figure 8.
Once the operator completes the questionnaire. the system stores the selected interests in the Customer Interest Detail file 302 with the customer account number and interest numeric codes (id.). The system is then ready to create a list of all the products which contain the same interest numeric codes.
The system also allows for records to be updated. for example on the introduction of new products, new humall hlterests, altered customer interests. Similarly, if more information becomes available to the supermarket about a product~ it may wish toupdate product details as well. This can be summarised as follows:
Type of Update Required Al~tom~tic Update Actions:
Update Customer details Update customer master record Delete customer interest detail records Add customer interesl detail records Update Product details Update product master record Delete product interest detail records Add product interest detail records Update Human Interests Update interest master record Update phrase master records Add new unit text to phrase master records In order to update customer details~ the Database Manager 200 retrieves and displays the CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
~6 current customer master record. with the current customer interest detail records. The operator can change any of the details, except for the customer account number. The Database Manager 200 pret'erably deletes all customer interest detail records. before inserting new ones, to ensure ret'erential integrity.
Download to Barcode Reader At the poinr when the system needs to compile the products which contain the customer's lluman interests to a barcode reader 106. the Database Manager 200 searches and gathers all the human hlteresls listed by the customer from the customer interest detail file 300 given the customer accoun[ number. This is illustrated in Figure 9.
It then searches the Product Interest Detail file 302 for each gathered interest. using the interest numeric code field. Eacll product hlterest record tound is stored in a temporary list 320 (Figure 10) in computer memory sorted on product code value with the interest details. Where the same produc[ is tound more than once~ the differenl interest details are appended to the same product code in Ihe temporary list. Once all the products have been retrieved from the Product Interest Detail file 306. permanent records of the Product list 320 can be made to speed up access to the details for future access. ready for the file contents to be downloaded to the barcode reader 106.
Once the Download files 3 _. 324 (Figure 10) are prepared~ the Customer Master file 300 is updated for the customer record to note that a barcode reader 106 is in use by that customer. The file layout of the Download files 322. 324 iS designed specifically to fit into the small amount of memory expected on the barcode reader 106, and to reduce the time taken to download the files to the barcode reader 106. For a customer with S
human interests. and a 1000 food products with these interests, the Database Manager 200 will need to make 5 reads of the Customer Interest Detail file 302, 5 reads of the Interest Master file 308, 10 reads of a Phrase Master File 310, 1005 reads of the Product Interest Detail file 306, and I read of the Customer Master file 300. In total, 1026 record retrievals.
CA 022~6386 1998-ll-2~
WO 97/46960 pcTlGs97loll69 This figure excludes duplicate reads of the Product Interest Detail file 306 where two interests share the same product. Retrieval time will be et't'ected by the small record size of the Product Interest Detail file 306. the tact that most of the reads are getting the next record~ and the large number of records in the file. An acceptable target speed is considered to be between 5 and 10 seconds.
Tlle Download File structure 3~ 324 for the reader will consist of a variable length indexed file to reduce the amount oi' storage space required on the reader to hold all the produc~ records required. and to reduce download time to the scanner from the central location point (see Figures 3 to 5~
Preferred Download Product File Structure:-Field & Record Descriptiol1 Field or record siz~ in by~es Minimum Maximum Type Banner Record 24 54 Customer Account Numb~r 20 50 Alpha No ot Product Index records 4 4 Number Product Index Records 17 Calculated Alpha Product Code 12 20 Alpha Intere~t Location 4 4 Numher No ot Interest Records ( 1.. 254) 1 I Byte Interest Records 6 1524 Interest Id 2 2 Word Value 2 2 Word Unit Phrase Id 2 2 Word Minimum File Size for I Product~ I Interest: 47 BytesFile size for 1000 products. average 5 interests: 47024 Byt~s (Download Rate of 9600 Baud. 5-6 Seconds) In addition to the product file downloaded tn the scanner. we will need to download a file containing the text to display for the interest records.
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
WO 97/46960 PCTtGB97/01169 Preferred Download Phrase file Structure:-Field & Record Description Field or record Size in hytes Minimum Maximum Type Phrase records 4 257 Phrase Interest Id 2 ~ Word Phrase size I I Byte Phrase Text 1 254 Alpha Minimum File Size ~or I Product. I Interest: 4 hytes File Size t'or 1000 Products~ average S Interest~: 2~70 hytes (average size l-t text 40 chara~ers) (430 byre~.) The downloaded Phrase file will not need to be indexed. as we can expect the barcode reader software lo read the whole file contents within a second.
When the cuslomer returns the barcode reader 106 to a cradle linked to the system, the Database manager 200 records the products scanned by the customer with the day'sdate. and the customer account number. Any previous records of the customer scan of products will be overwritten at this point, so that only the most current details of the customer are held in the Food Product Database 326. This requires the addition of another Database file to the Database structure previously defined. to store theinformation, shown in Figure 11.
In an embodiment~ the cuslomer is presented with a report of products considered for purchase.
It will be apparent from the above~ that the system can also be used by a supermarket to monitor customer behaviour, for example by determining which products were checked by a particular customer through the barcode reader 106, how that customer passed through the shop and so on. This can be achieved readily by an appropriate memory in the reader 106 and appropriate processing software in the central processing system of the shop.
Product Component Design The individual product components of the preferred embodiment can be stated with their role and relationship between each other. Reference is made to the block diagram of Figure 6 which shows the principal product components.
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
Wo 97/46960 PcT/Gss7/01169 (1) Database Manager 200 Software provides permanenl records of customer interests, product details and software settings for fast and quick access at critical points in the use of the system.
l'his product component is used by the nutritional experts in the supermarket company to set-up the information in the first place, and to maintain the information when required. It provides the set-up of access rights to the information for other staff using the system~ since security may be an important issue tor the supermarket company. It also provides the set-up ot' database parameters for the support of different database file formats and methods ot' access expected by each supermarket company.
It is envisaged that the product component will consist ot a number ot' visual look-up ~ b~ce tables, with selection buttons on screen to view, edit or delete individual records in each of the tables. In one of the displayed forms~ the operator is able to select the type of database file format for the tables, the OEM parameters for accessing the files, and the system passwords which provide functional access.
In addition to the visual t'orms. there will also be a librarv of t'unctioll calls to read and write the database int'ormation to and trom other producI component sot'tware. In this way, each other product component does not need to know the specific details of the database tables used. and challges made to the database structure will only need to be carried out in this Product Component.
When a customer uses the system for the first time. a sequence of visual forms may be used so that the customer can select their human interests. This product component will also provide tor the set-up and layout of the forms displayed to the customer, since the content of the forms will be decided by the supermarket company.
In the design of the database, special care is taken not to limit the number of human interests which may be stored against a product and the number of human interests that the customer can select, moreover the supermarket is able to define the human interests and specific order of displayed interests in the database without cause to change the CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
software. Each human inleres~ can contaill a range value or values to be displaved to the customer.
The term "human interests" is intended to denote more than just product ingredients, For example~ the range of human hlterests for a particular customer may include allergies to one or more particular food ingredients. desire to avoid or have particular ingredients or type of ingrediell~ such as carbohydrates. tats~ sugars and the like. It may also include foods prepared according to certain religious or other dietary criteria, such as Kosher. vegetarian. vegall toods and the like. ' Lifestyle" interests may include foods of particular origim production methods. t-oods which are the subjecl of health questions such as salmonella or BSE. The intentioll. thus. is to provide more than just an indication ot composirion of the food product bv ingredients.
Care is taken in the design o f the database to optimise the speed of retrieval of product details at the point of download to the barcode reader 1()6. Given the potential t-or international sales of the svstelll. the method used to store text in the database makes it easy to provide informatioll tor multi-language display in all product components.
In order to use the application database manager ~00. the operator is provided with a keyboard and pointing device. or access to the in~ormatioll through another product component Informatioll stored using this product compollent will be in proprietar~
database file format. or Windows (rM! configuratioll file format (.INI files). When a member of staff runs the client or server version of the sys~em. this product component will be loaded into computer memory. readv ~or use. More specific details of theDatabase Manager are given below.
(ii) Device Manager 202 Software provides the set-up of hardware/software component parameters for the smooth implementation of the system with different expected requirements for barcode readers, magnetic card readers, computers. visual displays, ~)linLe~ andoperating systems. Although a Windows (T~l) operating system will provide direct CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
Wo 97/46960 PcTlGss7loll69 support for many computer devices, special software may be needed to manage the communication and set-up of barcode and magnetic card readers. using for example the ASYNC Plus 2 (TM) software library (produced by Turbopower Software Company, 4775 Centinnal Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO 80919. U.S.A.).
It would also be advisable to provide functions within this product component torecognise automatically all the devices on the workslation/server. and to record their details~ so that this can be provided to other product components which require the same information. It is envisaged that the device manager 202 will consist of a number of visual forms which list the devices on the workstation/server and their settings. When experiencing problems witll a device. an operator can use this product component to adjust the settings of the device in the list displayed to resolve them. It will also provide the front screen for the system from wllicll an operator can start all other product components residing on the same computer. It also manages the processingtime given to each of the product components.
In order to access the device manager '02 settings. the operator is provided with a keyboard and pointing device. and an appropriate password provided by the ~l~t~h~ce manager 200.
When a member of supermarket staff runs the client/server version 102 of the central processing system, this product component is loaded into computer memory, it displays the visual front screen to the system and it loads the database manager 200 intocomputer memory.
(iii) D~ Q~1 Manager 204 Software is provided to manage the interaction of the customer with the system at the point of entry into the system and at the point of return of the barcode reader 106.
When a customer enters into the system, the dataload manager 204 validates a customer's account number, passed to it by a magnetic card reader, decide whether to present the customer with a questionnaire, if it is the first time he/she has entered into .
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
the system~ and subsequently manages the download of product details to the barcode reader 106, ready to take around the shop.
When the customer returns a barcode reader 106 to a cradle or dock of the systemdocking statiom the dataload manager 204 manages the transt'er of the product codes scanned by the customer to the database manager 200~ so that a permanent record can be made of the entries made by the cuslomer. for any queries tlle customer may have and for market research purposes. Eacl1 time. the dataload manager 204 receives an entry from a customer, the customer account number is used to identify the use of a specific barcode reader 106~ so that at the point of return, the dataload manager knows which customer is returnin the barcode reader 106. In this way. a list of current barcode readers 106 in use can be maintained in the dataload manager 204, and the syslem can cope with the use ot' more than one device in the Si10p.
Tl1e dataload manager 204 calls the database manager 200 and device manager 202 to perform database access and device communication. In this way~ the dataload manager will be device independent. and should the database or devices change. then the dataload manager 204 will not need to be changed. It is envisaged that the dataload manager will consist of a number of entry forms for multi-language display and filling in a questionnaire. and the dispiay of account card recognition. download progress and any background marketing int'ormation required for promotions on a visual display unit.
While waiting for cuslomers to fill-in questionnaires. or displaying marketing information~ the dataload manager 204 will monitor barcode reader returns, and upload the product codes scanned by the customer using calls through the device manager 202.
It will then write the information to database tables with the customer account number using the database manager 200.
Both the filling-in of the questionnaire and the display of progress and the like are options which can be switched-off. This allows dedicated network computers to be used for the dataload manager 204, and other network computers to be used just for entering and displaying information. It is envisaged that these options can be decided per .... .. ...
CA 022s6386 1998-11-2S
installed copy of the system in the device manager against the visual display parameter options. In order to use the dataload manager 204~ the operator will require a magnetic card reader and a barcode reader. A pointing device will be required IO start the dataload manager. and to use the vlsual display elements. if they are switched on.
The dataload manager 204 is not loaded into computer memory until selected by the operator from the front screen displayed by the device manager 20'.
(iv) Barcode Reader Program 206 In order IO drive the barcode readers 106. a specific program is provided for each unit.
The program resides on the barcode reader 106. with the purpose of managing the download and upload ot data to the device manager of the system. Using the program on the reader. the customer can scan product barcodes, and tind out whether the products are inad~isable to purchase givell their human interests. or ~hat their is no relevant information ~or the products. Although the system has been designed to highlightallergies. special diets and litestyle choices. the supermarket may define manv other topics of interest such as special offers and the like. When human hlterests are t'ound for a scanned product. the program 206 scrolls the text for interests in the display of the barcode reader. until the customer performs another action on the reader. An initial audible tone is given it' available on the reader 106 when a selected product isinadvisable .
In order for the program 206 to provide product information to the customer, it stores in the barcode reader memory a product item file, and just the details of those products which are of interest to the customer. In this way, the amount of memory used is reduced to a minimum. Further use of a file containing all the text to be displayed in a specified language reduces the amount of memory used. and the two techniques combined alsoreduce the time taken to download information into the barcode reader 106.
When the barcode reader 106 is returned to a cradle~ the program 206 will upload the product codes scanned to the device manager 202 software running a connected .. ..
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
computer. In order to keep a track of who is USillg which reader. the customer account number is downloaded and uploaded with product information by the program and the device manager 202. The program 206 is aulomatically started when the barcode reader 106 is turned-om and after the barcode reader operating system is loaded.
~v) Data Transfer Module This componellt manages the tlow of hlformatioll to and from external database sources of hlforma~ioll. It is recoglllse~ that tor mally supermarkels. there is already nutrilional information and product item details stored and maintained in other computer systems.
In the initial sel-up of database informatioll. and thereat'ter to lesser extent, it is envisaged that software is required to import and update product and customer information electronically.
The Data Transfer Module '0~ provides visual display t'orms to the operator to define the layout ot information in external data sources to the system. It also provides the ability to schedule the import of this intormatiom Likewise. the module can use the same layouts to schedule the export of information from the database files maintained by the system. When an import or export job is defined by the operator, the Data Transfer Module 208 writes the job details to the contiguration file of the device manager '02 component.
At the appointed time of a data transfer job, the device manager 202 component will call functions in the fl~t~h~e manager 200 to import or export the information required. As the dataload manager 204 may be loaded at the same tlme~ the device manager 202 carries out primary tasks in the dataload manager 204 t'irst until sufficient processing time is available to carry out an individual record read or write. In this way, data transfer jobs do not adversely effect dataloading to and from the barcode readers 106.
Connectivity to remote sites and all data sources are provided by the operating and networlcing software which the computer has loaded. Initially, selective criteria for imports and exports will be defined externally to the Data Transfer Module 208 by the ~ . , CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
source or target application software.
In order to use the Data Transfer Module 208, the operator is provided with a keyboard and pointing device with the appropriate password provided by the Database Manager 200.
Database Manager, Practical ~xample The Database Manager of the preferred embodiment maintains all the fl~t~b~se files used by the system and provides a number of visual forms on screen for an operator tomaintain the files. It allows the operator to design the layout of a customer questionnaire displayed on the screen when customers enter into the system for the first time. Using the questionnaire~ the customer can select the food products he/she wishes to avoid. Tlle Database Manager 200 also provides all the functions to the othersoftware components described above to access and maintain database files and special formatted files used in downloading customer interests to barcode readers.
The preferred relational database structure maintained by the Database Manager 200, shown in Figure 7, allows direct access to any number of interests associated with a customer, and any number of interests associated to a product. In this way, the Database Manager 200 can retrieve the products which a customer is interested given the customer identification (typically a customer account number).
Figure 7 shows six database files used in this embodiment to maintain the relationship between customer~ product and interest details. In each master file. an item is only reterenced once by a unique key. In the case of the consumer master 300 file, each consumer registered in the system will be uniquely identified by an account number, and by a second key the consumer name is used to search for the consumer when required.
Against the consumer account number and name are fields which store the consumeraddress and any other personal details required by a supermarket to identify that person.
A Customer Interest Detail file 302 is used to store all the human interests for each CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
individual listed in the Customer Master File 300. The Database Manager 200 finds all human interests in the Customer Interest Detail file by finding the first customer inlerest with the customer account number and reading all the following records with the same customer account number. Shlce the customer account number is an indexed key in the detail file 302, all the human interests for a person will be sorted together in sequence to provide fast retrieval.
In the Product Master file 304. all the food products listed in the database are identified by unique product codes used in the supermarket. This is preferably the same code as the barcode used on the food product packaging. The Product Interest Detail file 306 lists all the human interests associated with each individual product. As one of the indexed keys t'or the detail t'ile 306 is the product code. the Database Manager 200 retrieves all the human interests t'or a product by findhlg the tirst one with a product code value~ and reading the tollowing records until the product code value changes.
Againsl each in~erest record for a product~ a value can be stored for comparision.
Central to the database structure is the Interest Master file 308. The Interest Master file 308 stores a limited but large number of unique human interests by a short numeric code. For each interest stored in the file~ the user can store range values for comparision with actual product values for the same hlterest. There is also a field to store Ihe section where the human interest appears in the customer questionnaire. A
short description is used to look up a human interest~ rather than search for it by the short numeric code. A human interest can be any item ot' interest to the customer~ it can be a range value. a specific ingredient. a range of ingredients. or a lifestyle choice.
As a human interest is stored in the Master file 300~ the same numeric code and description is stored in another Master file~ the Phrase Master file 310.
The Phrase Master file 310 is used to display all text required in the system including human interest information. A Phrase Master file 310 is maintained for each language required in the system. The numeric codes are the same in each of the Phrase files 310, the only difference being that the text is translated for each language. In this way, the text displayed in the system can be changed for each language by closing the current CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
WO 97t46960 PCT/GB97/01169 Phrase Master file 310. and opening the Phrase Master file for that langua~e.
For example. if it is wished to slore the phrase yellow liquid' in the Phrase file 310.
The English Phrase Master file 310 may contain a unique number value I to identify the phrase text 'yellow liquid'. To display the t'rench equivalent of 'yellow liquid>. there will be a French Phrase Master t'ile 310 which contains a record with the unique number value I and the translated phrase text for 'yellow liquid'. the words liquide jaune~.
Since both the English and Frencll Phrase Master files would refer to the phrase with the same unique key number. the system can display Englisl1 or French text by accessing the files with the same key number value.
Database Preparation Before any customer registratiol1 in the system. nutritional experts in the supermarket company will need to setup the Human Interest Master file 308, the Product Master file 304~ the Product Interest Detail file 306. the Phrase Master files 310 for the languages required for interest descriptions and any other text displayed on screen. and the layout design of the customer questionnaire. In order to achieve this simply and to use existing computer information wherever possible. the Database Manager 200 has visual entry forms and functions based around the following recommended approach:-1. Type in all new human interests intended for use in the system. The Database Manager 200 will thell automatically generate the unique numeric code for each interest and create the corresponding phrases in the Phrase files 310 from the typed description given t'or each interest.
2. Design the layout of the customer questionnaire based on the human interests created. This will involve the selection of section titles, text displayed on the questionnaire and the selection of the order of the human interests in the sections.
3. Load the food product records in the Product Master file 304 from the supermarket product item file using the Data Transfer Module 208, descri~ed above.
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
~2 4. Load the product details containing human interests using the same Data Transter Module 208. or type the interests that apply to each product using the Database Manager 200. This applies to new human interests which may be created. once the database is in use.
Once these 4 steps have been achieved the database will be ready to receive new customer reglslrations. The specific design ot database fullctiolls are described nexl in this section.
Database functions In the evellt that there is a major challge to the Food Product Database 304~ such as new humall inlerests or new products are introduced inlo the database. or a customer wishes to question the information ,~resented by the system. or wishes to change interest selections. the Database Manager 200 provides visual entrv screens for manual update of the human interests~ product details and customer details which may be used by staff in the supermarket company. This may be limited to access to the customer questionnaire for staff in the shop, or full access to the database files tor use by nutritional experts.
In additiom automated processes may be used hl the Database Manager 200 to maintain reterential integrity between related database files. and to distribute database changes to other sites using the database.
There are relationships whicll need to be maintained between the Customer Master file 300, the Customer Interest Detail file 302, the Interest Master file 308. the Product Master file 304 and the Product Interest Detail file 306.
Record Deletions Referential integrity will only be broken when a deletion occurs, as the Database Manager 200 automatically generates the numeric codes for interest Id's, and all other critical keys are protected from change by the Database Manager 200. In the event that CA 022~6386 1998-ll-2~
the supermarket wish to delete details from the database~ the Database Manager 200 must also perform deletes from the following records :-Type of delete l~equired Automatic Delete Actions:
Delete a Customer Delete all customer interest detail records matching customer code, Delete all customer product detail records matching customer code.
Delete customer master record Delete a Product Delete all product interest detail records matching producl code.
Delete all customer product detail records matching product code.
Delete a Human Interest Delete all customer interesl detail records matching interes[ Id., Delete all product h~terest detail records matching interest Id., Delete phrase record matching interest Id. in each phrase language file, Delete human interest master record.
New Records With the exception of new customer registration, which is a specific database function,the Database Manager 200 performs a number of additions to the database files as follows: -Type of Addition Required Automatic Add Actions:
Add a new Food Product Validate product code Add product master record Add product interest detail records Add a new human interest Validate 4uestionnaire section ..~
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
Validate range values Add interest master record Add phrase master records In order for a food product to be added to the database, a valid product code as used in the supermarket company is used. An external validation routine will be called by the Database Manager 200 to check the product code. At the same time as the product master fields are filled-in, the operator can select the human interests associated with the product from the interest master file. The selected number of product interests will only be limited by the number of human interests which are available.
Whell the operator decides. the Database Manager 200 writes the product master record to the Product Master file 304~ and writes each of the human interests selected as an individual record to the Product Interest Detail file 306.
In order for a new human interest to be added. The Database Manager 200 generates the next unique interest number by retrieving the first record in the Interest Master file 308, and adding one to it, Immediately, if there already exists a record in the Interest Master file 308 with the same number, it will add one to interest number and attempt to add the record again to the Interest Master file 308. The Database Manager 200 continues to repeat the exercise, until it has successfully srored the new interest master record with a unique number. This ensures that no other Database Manager versionrunning at the same time will clash with the current process.
Once the master record is stored, the Database Manager 200 uses the same interest number to add a record to each of the phrase language files used by the supermarket.
The phrase text is taken from the description typed by the expert for the human interest.
If range values are selected for the human interest, the Database Manager 200 stores a reference to a unit phrase already stored in the Phrase Master files 310. If the expert types new unit text for the interest which does not exist in the Phrase Master files 310, the Database Manager 200 generates a unique phrase number to store the unit text, and CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
'S
it references the phrase number used in the interest master record. An example of unit text will be 'grams per 100 grams'.
New Customer registration At the point when a new customer is registered into the system~ the Customer Master file 300 fields are filled in for the customer, and a customer questionnaire displays on a visual display with the current human interests listed in the Interest Master ~lle. This is shown in Figure 8.
Once the operator completes the questionnaire. the system stores the selected interests in the Customer Interest Detail file 302 with the customer account number and interest numeric codes (id.). The system is then ready to create a list of all the products which contain the same interest numeric codes.
The system also allows for records to be updated. for example on the introduction of new products, new humall hlterests, altered customer interests. Similarly, if more information becomes available to the supermarket about a product~ it may wish toupdate product details as well. This can be summarised as follows:
Type of Update Required Al~tom~tic Update Actions:
Update Customer details Update customer master record Delete customer interest detail records Add customer interesl detail records Update Product details Update product master record Delete product interest detail records Add product interest detail records Update Human Interests Update interest master record Update phrase master records Add new unit text to phrase master records In order to update customer details~ the Database Manager 200 retrieves and displays the CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
~6 current customer master record. with the current customer interest detail records. The operator can change any of the details, except for the customer account number. The Database Manager 200 pret'erably deletes all customer interest detail records. before inserting new ones, to ensure ret'erential integrity.
Download to Barcode Reader At the poinr when the system needs to compile the products which contain the customer's lluman interests to a barcode reader 106. the Database Manager 200 searches and gathers all the human hlteresls listed by the customer from the customer interest detail file 300 given the customer accoun[ number. This is illustrated in Figure 9.
It then searches the Product Interest Detail file 302 for each gathered interest. using the interest numeric code field. Eacll product hlterest record tound is stored in a temporary list 320 (Figure 10) in computer memory sorted on product code value with the interest details. Where the same produc[ is tound more than once~ the differenl interest details are appended to the same product code in Ihe temporary list. Once all the products have been retrieved from the Product Interest Detail file 306. permanent records of the Product list 320 can be made to speed up access to the details for future access. ready for the file contents to be downloaded to the barcode reader 106.
Once the Download files 3 _. 324 (Figure 10) are prepared~ the Customer Master file 300 is updated for the customer record to note that a barcode reader 106 is in use by that customer. The file layout of the Download files 322. 324 iS designed specifically to fit into the small amount of memory expected on the barcode reader 106, and to reduce the time taken to download the files to the barcode reader 106. For a customer with S
human interests. and a 1000 food products with these interests, the Database Manager 200 will need to make 5 reads of the Customer Interest Detail file 302, 5 reads of the Interest Master file 308, 10 reads of a Phrase Master File 310, 1005 reads of the Product Interest Detail file 306, and I read of the Customer Master file 300. In total, 1026 record retrievals.
CA 022~6386 1998-ll-2~
WO 97/46960 pcTlGs97loll69 This figure excludes duplicate reads of the Product Interest Detail file 306 where two interests share the same product. Retrieval time will be et't'ected by the small record size of the Product Interest Detail file 306. the tact that most of the reads are getting the next record~ and the large number of records in the file. An acceptable target speed is considered to be between 5 and 10 seconds.
Tlle Download File structure 3~ 324 for the reader will consist of a variable length indexed file to reduce the amount oi' storage space required on the reader to hold all the produc~ records required. and to reduce download time to the scanner from the central location point (see Figures 3 to 5~
Preferred Download Product File Structure:-Field & Record Descriptiol1 Field or record siz~ in by~es Minimum Maximum Type Banner Record 24 54 Customer Account Numb~r 20 50 Alpha No ot Product Index records 4 4 Number Product Index Records 17 Calculated Alpha Product Code 12 20 Alpha Intere~t Location 4 4 Numher No ot Interest Records ( 1.. 254) 1 I Byte Interest Records 6 1524 Interest Id 2 2 Word Value 2 2 Word Unit Phrase Id 2 2 Word Minimum File Size for I Product~ I Interest: 47 BytesFile size for 1000 products. average 5 interests: 47024 Byt~s (Download Rate of 9600 Baud. 5-6 Seconds) In addition to the product file downloaded tn the scanner. we will need to download a file containing the text to display for the interest records.
CA 022~6386 1998-11-2~
WO 97/46960 PCTtGB97/01169 Preferred Download Phrase file Structure:-Field & Record Description Field or record Size in hytes Minimum Maximum Type Phrase records 4 257 Phrase Interest Id 2 ~ Word Phrase size I I Byte Phrase Text 1 254 Alpha Minimum File Size ~or I Product. I Interest: 4 hytes File Size t'or 1000 Products~ average S Interest~: 2~70 hytes (average size l-t text 40 chara~ers) (430 byre~.) The downloaded Phrase file will not need to be indexed. as we can expect the barcode reader software lo read the whole file contents within a second.
When the cuslomer returns the barcode reader 106 to a cradle linked to the system, the Database manager 200 records the products scanned by the customer with the day'sdate. and the customer account number. Any previous records of the customer scan of products will be overwritten at this point, so that only the most current details of the customer are held in the Food Product Database 326. This requires the addition of another Database file to the Database structure previously defined. to store theinformation, shown in Figure 11.
In an embodiment~ the cuslomer is presented with a report of products considered for purchase.
It will be apparent from the above~ that the system can also be used by a supermarket to monitor customer behaviour, for example by determining which products were checked by a particular customer through the barcode reader 106, how that customer passed through the shop and so on. This can be achieved readily by an appropriate memory in the reader 106 and appropriate processing software in the central processing system of the shop.
Claims (11)
- A product selection system for advising a user whether or not to purchase a product, including a product database comprising data on a plurality of products, product selection means for selecting a particular product listed in the database, user preference means for determining user preferences based on selected characteristics of the product, wherein the product data includes predetermined characteristics of each product, one or more of said characteristics being unrelated to the ingredient content of a product.
- 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said product characteristics include one or more of: method of treatment or manufacture, distance product has travelled from origin, place of origin, politics of region of origin, type of labour used in manufacture or production, details of manufacturer or supplier. health risks, public health warnings associated with the product, special offers.
- 3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the system includes means to explain to a user the reasons for the advice whether or not to purchase a product based upon the selected product characteristics.
- 4. A system according to any preceding claim, including a central processing station comprising the product database and one or more mobile user devices.
- 5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the or each user device is hand-held.
- 6. A system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the or each user device is programmable by the central processing station so as to contain a part of the product database relevant only to an identified user.
- 7. A system according to any preceding claim, including barcode reading means for identifying a selected product from a barcode thereon.
- 8. A system according to any preceding claim, including user monitoring means for monitoring products considered for purchase by a user.
- 9. A user portable device for advising a user whether or not to purchase a product, including product identifying means for identifying a product to be tested, a database of product characteristics, means for comparing the characteristics of an identified product with user selected characteristics and means for advising a user whether or not to purchase the product on the basis of said determination, wherein the database includes only data deemed relevant for the particular user.
- 10. A method of advising a user whether or not to purchase a product, including the steps of determining user preferences by selection of one or more product characteristics, identifying a product selected by the user on the basis of a product identifier, determining whether the product includes one or more of the user selected product characteristics from a product database including one or more product characteristics unrelated to the ingredient content of a product, and notifying the user of the results of the determination.
- 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said product characteristics include one or more of: method of treatment or manufacture, distance product has travelled from origin, place of origin, politics of region of origin, type of labour used in manufacture or production, details of manufacturer or supplier, health risks, public health warnings associated with the product, special offers.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9611788A GB2313940B (en) | 1996-06-06 | 1996-06-06 | Component identifying system |
| GB9611788.2 | 1996-06-06 | ||
| GB9701808A GB2313941B (en) | 1996-06-06 | 1997-01-29 | Product selection system |
| GB9701808.9 | 1997-01-29 | ||
| PCT/GB1997/001169 WO1997046960A1 (en) | 1996-06-06 | 1997-04-29 | Product selection system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2256386A1 true CA2256386A1 (en) | 1997-12-11 |
Family
ID=26309453
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002256386A Abandoned CA2256386A1 (en) | 1996-06-06 | 1997-04-29 | Product selection system |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US6375077B1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0976075B1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU717127B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2256386A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69735359T2 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK0976075T3 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2258791T3 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2313941B (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ333170A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1997046960A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (85)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1059599A3 (en) * | 1999-06-08 | 2002-09-25 | Nokia Corporation | Method and apparatus for retrieving specific information associated with an obtained indentifier |
| WO2001013317A2 (en) * | 1999-08-13 | 2001-02-22 | Kocher Jean Pierre | Method and apparatus for scanning of food and medicine to provide outputs relative to a user profile |
| US20050091124A1 (en) * | 1999-11-23 | 2005-04-28 | White Phillip A. | Product purchase decision making and information device |
| JP3366303B2 (en) * | 1999-11-24 | 2003-01-14 | エヌイーシーインフロンティア株式会社 | Barcode reader and its misreading detection method. |
| GB2358266B (en) * | 2000-01-11 | 2004-09-01 | Intellident Ltd | Product selection system |
| DE10039200C2 (en) * | 2000-03-11 | 2003-10-23 | Jeom Doo Kim | Pollution prevention procedures associated with direct transactions in agricultural, livestock, fish and forestry products |
| GB2361565A (en) * | 2000-04-19 | 2001-10-24 | Christopher Gregory | Compact disc library scanner and organiser |
| US6980999B1 (en) * | 2000-05-31 | 2005-12-27 | Clare Grana | Method and system for providing dietary information |
| KR20010110532A (en) * | 2000-06-07 | 2001-12-13 | 김점두 | Method discrimination for the production background of the products by bar code system |
| FR2813683B1 (en) * | 2000-09-07 | 2003-01-17 | Lionel Guivarch | METHOD FOR MANAGING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE LIFE PATH OF A PLURALITY OF FOOD PRODUCTS |
| DE10056202B4 (en) * | 2000-11-13 | 2006-09-28 | Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. | Method of avoiding the purchase of articles marked with a product tag and offered for sale to consumers in a store |
| WO2002080074A1 (en) * | 2001-01-16 | 2002-10-10 | Kip Holdings Inc. | Improved data retrieval and report generation system for foodstuffs |
| US6786405B2 (en) * | 2002-02-28 | 2004-09-07 | Curt Wiedenhoefer | Tissue and implant product supply system and method |
| GB2386235A (en) * | 2002-03-05 | 2003-09-10 | Procter & Gamble | Generating a product recommendation using a bar code scanner |
| DE10213735A1 (en) * | 2002-03-26 | 2003-10-23 | Sabahattin Cakiral | Method and device for comparing product properties |
| US20030200200A1 (en) * | 2002-04-19 | 2003-10-23 | Hughes Mary Beth | Content disclosure method and system |
| US7827037B2 (en) * | 2002-06-11 | 2010-11-02 | Can Technologies, Inc. | System, method and apparatus for providing feed toxin information and recommendations |
| US7047041B2 (en) | 2002-06-17 | 2006-05-16 | Nokia Corporation | Method and device for storing and accessing personal information |
| US7920827B2 (en) | 2002-06-26 | 2011-04-05 | Nokia Corporation | Apparatus and method for facilitating physical browsing on wireless devices using radio frequency identification |
| US6796507B2 (en) * | 2002-09-27 | 2004-09-28 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Apparatus and method for determining ingredients by label scanning |
| US7072672B1 (en) | 2002-11-01 | 2006-07-04 | Nokia Corporation | Disposable mini-applications |
| GB0302365D0 (en) * | 2003-01-31 | 2003-03-05 | Lay Winston J | Determining the suitability of consumer products to individuals |
| US20050273342A1 (en) * | 2003-03-18 | 2005-12-08 | Menachem Levy | Centralized digital paper distribution across an industry |
| US7104446B2 (en) * | 2003-09-03 | 2006-09-12 | Visa U.S.A., Inc. | Method, system and portable consumer device using wildcard values |
| US7373109B2 (en) | 2003-11-04 | 2008-05-13 | Nokia Corporation | System and method for registering attendance of entities associated with content creation |
| US7149503B2 (en) | 2003-12-23 | 2006-12-12 | Nokia Corporation | System and method for associating postmark information with digital content |
| US7650835B2 (en) | 2004-01-26 | 2010-01-26 | Russ Stein | Produce ripening system |
| US20050166147A1 (en) * | 2004-01-26 | 2005-07-28 | Stein Russell L. | Produce Ripeness Enhancement |
| GB2439670A (en) * | 2004-11-19 | 2008-01-02 | Setup Ventures Licensing Ltd | Recommending food types to a customer |
| US20060237532A1 (en) * | 2005-04-20 | 2006-10-26 | Style And Form, Inc.., Incorporation: Delaware | System and method for facilitating in-store customer service, product marketing and inventory management |
| US8190447B2 (en) * | 2005-06-02 | 2012-05-29 | Cerner Innovation, Inc. | Computerized methods and systems for user-centric selection of menu items |
| US8719044B2 (en) * | 2005-06-02 | 2014-05-06 | Cerner Innovation, Inc. | Computerized methods for displaying clinically-related in-patient information |
| US20070016430A1 (en) * | 2005-07-13 | 2007-01-18 | Galina Goustova | Method for selection of cosmetic products |
| US7738674B2 (en) * | 2005-09-19 | 2010-06-15 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd | Retrieving location data by sensing coded data on a surface |
| US7742755B2 (en) * | 2005-09-19 | 2010-06-22 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd | Retrieving a bill via a coded surface |
| US7724399B2 (en) * | 2005-09-19 | 2010-05-25 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd | Method of downloading and installing a software object |
| US7761090B2 (en) * | 2005-09-19 | 2010-07-20 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd | Print remotely to a mobile device |
| US7756526B2 (en) | 2005-09-19 | 2010-07-13 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd | Retrieving a web page via a coded surface |
| US7738919B2 (en) * | 2005-09-19 | 2010-06-15 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd | Link object to card |
| US7558597B2 (en) * | 2005-09-19 | 2009-07-07 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd. | Retrieving a ringtone via a coded surface |
| US7621442B2 (en) | 2005-09-19 | 2009-11-24 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd | Printing a subscription using a mobile device |
| US7855805B2 (en) | 2005-09-19 | 2010-12-21 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd | Printing a competition entry form using a mobile device |
| US7747280B2 (en) * | 2005-09-19 | 2010-06-29 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd | Retrieving a product via a coded surface |
| GB2431740A (en) * | 2005-10-25 | 2007-05-02 | Hewlett Packard Development Co | Method for providing electronic data |
| US20070143217A1 (en) * | 2005-12-15 | 2007-06-21 | Starr Robert J | Network access to item information |
| US20070143257A1 (en) * | 2005-12-15 | 2007-06-21 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Methods for assisting a person in transitioning from one disposable absorbent product to another |
| US8219584B2 (en) | 2005-12-15 | 2012-07-10 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | User access to item information |
| US20070269557A1 (en) * | 2006-05-19 | 2007-11-22 | Hannaford Licensing Corp. | Method and system for assessing, scoring, grouping and presenting nutritional value information of food products |
| US20080005082A1 (en) * | 2006-06-28 | 2008-01-03 | Mary Beth Hughes | Content disclosure method and system |
| WO2008031163A1 (en) * | 2006-09-13 | 2008-03-20 | Eatingsafe Pty Ltd. | On-line ingredient register |
| US20080121686A1 (en) * | 2006-11-08 | 2008-05-29 | Inventec Corporation | Input system and method |
| US20080162291A1 (en) * | 2006-12-27 | 2008-07-03 | Motorola, Inc. | Dynamic updating of product profiles for active lifestyles |
| US20080162555A1 (en) * | 2006-12-27 | 2008-07-03 | Motorola, Inc. | Active lifestyle management |
| US7834762B2 (en) * | 2006-12-27 | 2010-11-16 | Motorola, Inc. | Monitoring for radio frequency enabled items based on activity profiles |
| CN101201886B (en) * | 2007-01-15 | 2012-08-22 | 于志 | Three-he-code method for recognizing commodity |
| US20080183588A1 (en) * | 2007-01-30 | 2008-07-31 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and system for validating consumer preferences and purchase items at point of sale |
| US7688208B2 (en) * | 2007-04-26 | 2010-03-30 | Motorola, Inc. | Monitoring for radio frequency enabled items based on shared group activity profiles |
| WO2009033174A1 (en) * | 2007-09-07 | 2009-03-12 | Yottamark, Inc. | Attributing harvest information with unique identifiers |
| IL188539A0 (en) * | 2008-01-02 | 2008-11-03 | Joelle Zerdoun | A method and system that provides consumers with information on the ingerdient content of products |
| US20110123964A1 (en) * | 2009-11-26 | 2011-05-26 | Logi-Diet Ltd. | Computerized aid for planning a nutritionally balanaced menu |
| US20130269538A1 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2013-10-17 | Eugenio Minvielle | Transformation system for nutritional substances |
| US10219531B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2019-03-05 | Iceberg Luxembourg S.A.R.L. | Preservation system for nutritional substances |
| US9541536B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2017-01-10 | Eugenio Minvielle | Preservation system for nutritional substances |
| US20130262262A1 (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2013-10-03 | Ebay, Inc. | Consumer Alerts from a Readable Code |
| US20130275439A1 (en) * | 2012-04-16 | 2013-10-17 | Eugenio Minvielle | System and method for monitoring nutritional substances to indicate adulteration |
| US9702858B1 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2017-07-11 | Iceberg Luxembourg S.A.R.L. | Dynamic recipe control |
| US9564064B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2017-02-07 | Eugenio Minvielle | Conditioner with weight sensors for nutritional substances |
| US9414623B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2016-08-16 | Eugenio Minvielle | Transformation and dynamic identification system for nutritional substances |
| US9460633B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2016-10-04 | Eugenio Minvielle | Conditioner with sensors for nutritional substances |
| US8733631B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2014-05-27 | Eugenio Minvielle | Local storage and conditioning systems for nutritional substances |
| US9429920B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2016-08-30 | Eugenio Minvielle | Instructions for conditioning nutritional substances |
| US9528972B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2016-12-27 | Eugenio Minvielle | Dynamic recipe control |
| US20140069838A1 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2014-03-13 | Eugenio Minvielle | Nutritional Substance Label System For Adaptive Conditioning |
| US9436170B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2016-09-06 | Eugenio Minvielle | Appliances with weight sensors for nutritional substances |
| US20140046869A1 (en) * | 2012-08-10 | 2014-02-13 | Localize Services Ltd. | Methods of rating and displaying food in terms of its local character |
| US20140121807A1 (en) | 2012-10-29 | 2014-05-01 | Elwha Llc | Food Supply Chain Automation Farm Tracking System and Method |
| US20140122184A1 (en) | 2012-10-29 | 2014-05-01 | Elwha Llc | Food Supply Chain Automation Grocery Information System And Method |
| WO2014120810A1 (en) * | 2013-01-31 | 2014-08-07 | Elwha Llc | Food supply chain automation residential information system and method |
| DE102013014080A1 (en) | 2013-08-27 | 2015-03-05 | Marco Mühle | Information system for multi-allergic people |
| US10783495B1 (en) | 2014-04-30 | 2020-09-22 | Information Exchange Holdings Inc. | Document management for ingredient suppliers |
| WO2016131057A1 (en) * | 2015-02-13 | 2016-08-18 | Spend Consciously, Inc. | Computer implemented method and system and computer program product for generating and displaying political contribution information associated with a product |
| JP6637768B2 (en) * | 2016-01-15 | 2020-01-29 | 東芝テック株式会社 | Shopping support server and its program |
| US10977708B2 (en) | 2016-02-02 | 2021-04-13 | Clyr, Llc | Product clarity score and channel tagging |
| US10679273B2 (en) * | 2016-02-02 | 2020-06-09 | Clyr, Llc | Product clarity score and channel tagging |
| US9721446B1 (en) | 2016-07-15 | 2017-08-01 | International Business Machines Corporation | Detecting allergens present in a product |
Family Cites Families (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4002886A (en) * | 1975-06-20 | 1977-01-11 | Ronald Murl Sundelin | Electronic price display unit |
| GB2105075A (en) * | 1981-05-30 | 1983-03-16 | Geoffrey William Alexande Neel | Display systems |
| US4429385A (en) * | 1981-12-31 | 1984-01-31 | American Newspaper Publishers Association | Method and apparatus for digital serial scanning with hierarchical and relational access |
| US4553206A (en) * | 1983-10-03 | 1985-11-12 | Wang Laboratories, Inc. | Image storage and retrieval |
| US4521677A (en) * | 1983-12-02 | 1985-06-04 | Sarwin Herbert S | Product control system for supermarkets and the like |
| DE3424162A1 (en) | 1984-06-30 | 1986-01-23 | Heinz Georg Hünibach Thun Baus | PRODUCT INFORMATION AND DISPLAY SYSTEM |
| US4775935A (en) * | 1986-09-22 | 1988-10-04 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Video merchandising system with variable and adoptive product sequence presentation order |
| US4930011A (en) * | 1988-08-02 | 1990-05-29 | A. C. Nielsen Company | Method and apparatus for identifying individual members of a marketing and viewing audience |
| US5478989A (en) * | 1989-09-27 | 1995-12-26 | Shepley; Kenneth J. | Nutritional information system for shoppers |
| GB2250364B (en) * | 1990-09-10 | 1994-11-02 | Jeffrey Wallis | Apparatus for use in retail operations |
| US5233520A (en) * | 1990-12-19 | 1993-08-03 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture | Method and system for measurement of intake of foods, nutrients and other food components in the diet |
| FR2702583A1 (en) | 1993-03-09 | 1994-09-16 | Mbole Nso Roger | Pocket Adder Bar Code Reader |
| US5551021A (en) * | 1993-07-30 | 1996-08-27 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Image storing managing apparatus and method for retreiving and displaying merchandise and customer specific sales information |
| AU2227995A (en) * | 1994-03-28 | 1995-10-17 | Robert Waxman, Inc. | Interactive product selection and purchasing system |
| CA2154603A1 (en) * | 1994-08-19 | 1996-02-20 | Abhaya Asthana | Small domain communications system for personalized shopping assistance |
-
1997
- 1997-01-29 GB GB9701808A patent/GB2313941B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-04-29 US US09/194,854 patent/US6375077B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-04-29 DK DK97921934T patent/DK0976075T3/en active
- 1997-04-29 WO PCT/GB1997/001169 patent/WO1997046960A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1997-04-29 CA CA002256386A patent/CA2256386A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-04-29 ES ES97921934T patent/ES2258791T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-04-29 NZ NZ333170A patent/NZ333170A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1997-04-29 AU AU27813/97A patent/AU717127B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1997-04-29 DE DE69735359T patent/DE69735359T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-04-29 EP EP97921934A patent/EP0976075B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DK0976075T3 (en) | 2006-07-03 |
| GB9701808D0 (en) | 1997-03-19 |
| DE69735359D1 (en) | 2006-04-27 |
| AU717127B2 (en) | 2000-03-16 |
| EP0976075B1 (en) | 2006-03-01 |
| AU2781397A (en) | 1998-01-05 |
| EP0976075A1 (en) | 2000-02-02 |
| ES2258791T3 (en) | 2006-09-01 |
| GB2313941A (en) | 1997-12-10 |
| DE69735359T2 (en) | 2006-12-14 |
| NZ333170A (en) | 2000-02-28 |
| WO1997046960A1 (en) | 1997-12-11 |
| US6375077B1 (en) | 2002-04-23 |
| GB2313941B (en) | 2000-01-26 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| AU717127B2 (en) | Product selection system | |
| EP1117055A2 (en) | Product selection system | |
| US20020079368A1 (en) | Product or service selection system | |
| US5478989A (en) | Nutritional information system for shoppers | |
| US6817863B2 (en) | Computer program, method, and system for monitoring nutrition content of consumables and for facilitating menu planning | |
| US6283914B1 (en) | Device and method for monitoring dietary intake of calories and nutrients | |
| US6038546A (en) | System and method for creating a food order sales receipt identifying nutritional information of a customized meal | |
| US5804803A (en) | Mechanism for retrieving information using data encoded on an object | |
| US4970681A (en) | Method and apparatus for correlating data | |
| JP2002251518A (en) | Support system for cooking, and controller for foodstuff | |
| US8307303B2 (en) | Order terminal, computer-readable storage medium, and order method | |
| KR20050106440A (en) | Product or service selection system | |
| JPH10312398A (en) | Virtual catalog system, and mediating agent, catalog agent and program storage medium for the system | |
| JP2588618B2 (en) | Order management system | |
| JP4946814B2 (en) | Information provision system | |
| JPH1078986A (en) | Marketing system | |
| GB2313940A (en) | Component identifying system | |
| JP2004220291A (en) | Foodstuff traceability system using town code | |
| JP2004078454A (en) | Creating method of point of purchase advertisement | |
| JP2003067504A (en) | Nutrient component data provision method and device thereof | |
| JP2002352322A (en) | Sales results display system | |
| JPH0922431A (en) | Cooking menu proposal method | |
| JP2004078885A (en) | Method of printing point of purchase advertisement, and server for supporting creation of point of purchase advertisement | |
| JP5621894B2 (en) | Mobile terminal and management device | |
| JP2008015785A (en) | Food information confirmation system |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20070202 |