Smart Cart Product Detection and Mobile Association

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shopping carts lack the ability to provide real-time tracking and checkout capabilities, making it difficult for users to manage their purchases efficiently and accurately, especially in busy retail environments.

Innovation Solution

Equipping shopping carts with product detection systems and associating them with mobile computing devices via a remote server system, allowing for real-time tracking and checkout processes without the need for physical check-out counters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If conventional shopping carts are used without product detection systems, then the cart structure remains simple and cost-effective, but users cannot obtain real-time tracking of purchases or accurate price verification

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveReal-time purchase tracking informationVSAvoidShopping cart system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a remote server system as an intermediary that receives product information from the shopping cart's detection system and sends it to the user's mobile device. This mediator handles the complex data processing and communication tasks, allowing the shopping cart itself to remain relatively simple while still providing comprehensive real-time purchase tracking capabilities through the cloud-based infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The shopping cart system automatically detects products as they are placed in the cart and transmits this information wirelessly to both the remote server and the user's mobile device. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual item entry or activation by the user, providing automatic real-time tracking without requiring the user to interact with the system beyond placing items in the cart.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If conventional check-out counters are used, then the checkout process requires physical presence at designated areas, but this creates long wait times and reduces shopping efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCheckout efficiencyVSAvoidWait time at check-out

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary checkout actions continuously throughout the shopping experience by automatically tracking all items placed in the cart and calculating totals in real-time. This preliminary processing of checkout information eliminates the need for manual item-by-item scanning at the checkout counter, allowing users to complete purchases quickly by simply presenting their cart at any exit point without waiting in traditional checkout lines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If manual item tracking is used by users, then no additional technology is required, but users cannot accurately verify prices or keep accurate tallies of purchases in busy retail environments

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePurchase tally accuracyVSAvoidShopping process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of writing down or mentally tracking items with an automated electronic detection system. The product detection system automatically identifies items as they are placed in the cart, wirelessly transmits this information to the user's mobile device, and displays accurate real-time tallies and price information, eliminating human error while keeping the shopping process simple and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables users to have a clear, real-time tally of their purchases, verify prices, and complete checkouts on their mobile devices, enhancing shopping efficiency, reducing wait times, and simplifying the shopping process.

Implementation Method 1

a wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate with other devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWireless communication: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11734666B2Physical shopping chart-to-mobile device associations

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 TARGET BRANDS INC

AI summary

In some implementations, a system for providing and managing associations between mobile computing device and physical shopping carts used in retail stores includes a physical shopping cart configured to transport physical goods around a store. The physical shopping cart includes a product detection system that is programmed to detect products that are placed in the physical shopping cart, a wireless transceiver to wirelessly communicate with other devices, and a cart identifier that uniquely identifies the physical shopping cart. The system further includes a mobile computing device that is programmed (i) to obtain the cart identifier for the shopping cart, (ii) to establish an association with the physical shopping cart using the cart identifier, and (iii) once the association between the physical shopping cart and the mobile computing device has been established, to output a user interface that provides a real-time summary of the products in the physical shopping cart.