Apparatus, system and method for facilitating and securing access to transactions in a retail environment

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method of facilitating a retail transaction. The apparatus, system and method may include obtaining, via an opt-in to an in-store wireless network, of consumer device data regarding a plurality of consumer mobile devices, the consumer data comprising device use data, prior purchase data, and geo-location data; receiving video surveillance data related to at least one consumer having the consumer device data; interrelating, from at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing at least the consumer device data and the video surveillance data, of at least the consumer device data and the video surveillance data by at least one computing processor; and unlocking, at a direction of the computing processor and pursuant to a plurality of business rules to the interrelated datas, at least one in-store protection proximate to a location indicated by the geo-location data to allow a prospective purchasing one of the consumers to access at least one previously locked in-store item.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 61 / 762,113, filed Feb. 7, 2013 entitled “Apparatus, System and Method for Facilitating and Securing Access to Transactions in a Retail Environment”; U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 61 / 762,106, filed Feb. 7, 2013 entitled “Apparatus, System and Method for Secure Transactions and Monitoring in a Retail Environment”; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 762,122, filed Feb. 7, 2013 entitled, “Apparatus, System and Method for Stimulating and Securing Retail Transactions”; and, the entire disclosure of which are incorporated herein as if set forth in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Disclosure[0003]The instant disclosure relates to retail transactions, and, in particular, to apparatuses, systems and methods for securing access to transactions and for transaction monitoring in a retail environment.[0004]2. Background of the Disclosure[0005]In the present retail market, it is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a way to allow people to check out and shop in stores securely, while reducing the likelihood of theft and mistakes. This improves consumer tracking and makes retail transactions easier.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, transactions at these tethered POS typically include further limiting factors for high value, high theft items.

Unfortunately, the locking of high value items also typically decreases prospective sales of such items.

“Mobile checkout” using smartphones and like devices is increasingly desired by consumers, but mobile checkout leads to a plurality of issues, particularly with respect to a loss by mistake and theft.

Further, mobile checkout may give rise to issues with regard to, for example, loyalty programs and the like, as well as consumer and consumer purchase tracking.

Additionally, even mobile checkout offerings do not allow for the use of mobile devices to increase sales of the aforementioned locked items.

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