Determination of customer proximity to a register through use of sound and methods thereof

摘要

A method is disclosed for providing notifications and other communications to a customer based on the customer's proximity to a checkout register at a store. A mobile electronic device with mobile self checkout software thereon may record and analyze ambient noise to determine when a customer is in a checkout line as well as to track the customer's progress through the checkout line. The mobile self checkout software may present information to the customer according to the customer's position in the checkout line. The type and nature of the information presented to the customer may be changed according to the customer's distance from the checkout terminal as well as how quickly the customer is approaching the terminal.

主权项

1. A method of providing notifications to a retail customer comprising:
operating mobile self checkout software on a customer mobile electronic device at a retail location, the mobile electronic device having a processor, memory operatively connected to the processor, a microphone, and a display; the mobile self checkout software determining that the mobile electronic device is in a checkout line in response to identifying an audio signal produced by a point of sale terminal and received by the microphone of the mobile device, with the audio signal being inaudible to humans; the mobile self checkout software receiving a series of beeps from the point of sale terminal and analyzing the rate of repetition of the beeps by comparing the rate of repetition of the beeps to a rate of repetition of beeps known to be associated with a conventional point of sale terminal operated by a sales associate and a rate of repetition of beeps known to be associated with a self checkout terminal to determine if the point of sale terminal is a self checkout terminal or a conventional point of sale terminal; the mobile self checkout software providing notifications to the customer on the mobile electronic device display when the customer is in a checkout line; the mobile self checkout software determining the proximity of the mobile electronic device to the point of sale terminal based on the inaudible audio signal; and the mobile self checkout software changing the type of notifications which are provided to the customer according to the proximity of the mobile electronic device to the point of sale terminal whereby the mobile self checkout software provides a first notification having a first type of content to the customer via the mobile electronic device display when the mobile electronic device is a first distance from the point of sale terminal and provides a second notification having a second type of content which is a different type of content than the first type of content to the customer via the mobile electronic device display when the mobile electronic device is a second distance from the point of sale terminal which is less than the first distance.