Handheld Scanner for Unit Weight Cost Comparison and Store Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face difficulties in accessing the cost per unit weight of products and locating them within a retail store efficiently, as existing solutions require manual calculation and reliance on store staff or signage, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A handheld device with scanning capabilities, connected to a computing system, that compares product labels to determine the cheapest option by unit weight and provides navigation to the product's location within the store, using GPS or other navigation means, allowing consumers to make informed decisions without additional burden on retailers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the consumer manually reads labels and performs mental calculations to estimate cost per unit weight, then the consumer can make informed purchase decisions, but the process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of reading labels and performing mental calculations with an automated electronic system. The handheld device scans barcodes to automatically retrieve product information, computes cost per unit weight electronically, and presents comparisons to the consumer, eliminating the need for manual arithmetic while maintaining accurate comparison capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The handheld device serves as an intermediary between the product labels and the consumer's decision-making process. It automatically captures data from barcodes, retrieves additional product information from databases, performs the cost-per-unit-weight calculations, and presents the results, thereby eliminating the need for direct manual calculation by the consumer
2Ease of operation
If the retailer modifies existing labels to include cost per unit weight information, then consumers can easily access this information, but the retailer bears additional burden and cost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring physical modification of product labels, the system creates digital copies of the necessary information by scanning existing barcodes on product labels. The handheld device retrieves product data from databases using these barcodes, effectively copying the required information without any physical label changes, thereby eliminating the burden on retailers while providing consumers with easy access to cost per unit weight data
Solution Approach 2:
The handheld device and database system act as intermediaries that retrieve product information electronically without requiring physical label modifications. The system accesses product data through barcode scanning and database queries, presenting cost per unit weight information to consumers without imposing any changes on existing label infrastructure or creating additional work for retailers
3Ease of operation
If the consumer relies on store staff or signs for product location directions, then the consumer can be directed to the correct aisle or section, but the consumer must still search within the aisle or section for the specific product
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by not only locating the correct aisle or section but also identifying the specific product location within that area before the consumer arrives. The handheld device provides detailed navigation instructions that guide consumers directly to the specific product shelf and position, eliminating the need for subsequent manual searching within the aisle or section
Solution Approach 2:
The handheld device serves as an intermediary navigation system that integrates with the store's product database. It translates product barcode information into precise location data, providing step-by-step directional guidance that leads consumers directly to the specific product rather than just the general aisle or section, thereby eliminating the need for additional searching
4Productivity
If the consumer is not co-located with the product of interest, then the consumer cannot immediately compare products, but the consumer lacks awareness of the product's location within the store
Solution Approach 1:
The handheld device acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the consumer and product location information. By scanning the barcode on a product of interest or querying the database, the device retrieves and displays the specific location of the desired product within the store, enabling consumers to efficiently navigate to products even when initially not co-located with them
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary location identification by retrieving product location data from the database before the consumer begins their physical search. The handheld device provides advance direction information that guides consumers to the correct product location, eliminating the need for random searching or relying on store staff for location information
Data Source
AI summary
A method for comparison of product information based on product codes to determine the cost per unit weight per product and hereby determine the cheapest product per unit weight is disclosed herein. The method further comprises of displaying the location information of the cheapest product within the retail store and providing navigational information for enabling the consumer to access the product easily.