| 摘要 |
A shopping cart transmits customer information to a store information display system and a checkout system thereby providing individualized pricing or advertising information and automated checkout services to one or more customers operating such shopping carts. A store includes various product display areas with one or more information display units (IDUs) mounted proximate to the various product display areas. The IDUs display pricing related to the proximate products, and can also display advertising information. A customer information input device (CIID) is associated with each product display area and is adapted to receive the customer information transmitted by a browsing customer's proximate shopping cart. Pricing information displayed on the IDUs associated with the CIID through which the customer information was received is updated based on the customer information. This allows a store to display individualized pricing to a browsing customer based on, for example, that customer's standing in a store loyalty program. The shopping cart is further adapted to transmit customer information to a checkout system for the purpose of automatically applying loyalty program benefits associated with the customer during the checkout transaction. If the customer has previously given the store permission, credit account information may be automatically associated with the customer information received from the shopping cart. In this manner, charges for the transaction may be automatically assessed against a customer's credit account, thereby saving checkout time and reducing complexity for both the customer and checkout system operator.
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