| 主权项 |
1. A method of notifying customers of a retail enterprise of checkout queue activity, the method comprising:
storing an identification code, with a processor in a first database, the identification code identifying a location in or near a customer entry area to a plurality of point-of-sale systems grouped together in a brick-and-mortar outlet of the retail enterprise, associating, with the processor in the first or a second database, each of a plurality of customer codes with a different one of a plurality of customers of the retail enterprise, monitoring, with the processor, purchase transaction activity at each of the plurality of point-of-sale systems, determining, with the processor, an operating state of each of the plurality of point-of-sale systems based on the monitored purchase transaction activity thereof, and in response to a wirelessly received customer code and identification code, identifying with the processor the one of the plurality of customer codes in the first or second database that matches the wirelessly received customer code, comparing, with the processor, the wirelessly received identification code with the identification code stored in the first database, and wirelessly transmitting, under control of the processor, a notification message to a mobile communication device identified by the matching one of the plurality of customer codes if the wirelessly received identification code matches the identification code stored in the first database, the notification message including information identifying the operating state of one or more of the plurality of point-of-sale systems. |
