Methods and apparatus for presenting personalized information to consumers in a retail environment

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for presenting personalized information to consumers in a retail environment. A personalized price is determined for at least one product that is in physical proximity to the customer. The physical proximity may be determined, for example, by evaluating identifiers, such as RFID tags, associated with each customer and product. A personalized message can be also presented to a customer regarding at least one product that is in physical proximity to the customer. The personalized message can provide, for example, dietary or safety information relevant to the customer and at least one product in the proximity of the customer. The personalized information may be determined based on one or more personalized message rules.

1 . A method for determining a price of a product for a customer, comprising: 
 determining a personalized price for at least one product in physical proximity to said customer, said personalized price providing a discount from a regular price.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said physical proximity is determined based on an identifier associated with said customer.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a physical location of said customer is determined based on biometric information.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said identifier associated with said customer is an RFID tag.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a physical location of said product is determined using an RFID tag associated with said product.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining step determines said personalized price based on one or more personalized price rules.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said personalized price rules includes one or more trigger conditions and a corresponding price adjustment.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying a default price for said product until said personalized price is determined.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of: 
 establishing a difference quantity as a function of the default price and the personalized price; and    presenting the difference quantity to said customer.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said personalized price is based on one or more attributes of said customer.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said attributes of said customer includes a status of whether said customer belongs to a reward program.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said attributes of said customer includes a purchase history.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said attributes of said customer includes customer preferences.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said personalized price is based on one or more attributes of said product.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said attributes of said product includes a quantity of said product.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said attributes of said product includes a selection of said product and one or more specified additional products.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said physical proximity is determined based on physical contact between said customer and said at least one product.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said physical proximity is determined based on said customer and said at least one product being within a field of the same RFID reader.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said physical proximity is determined based on said customer and said at least one product being in the same sector of a given location.  
     
     
         20 . A method for determining a message to present to a customer, comprising: 
 determining a personalized message to present to said customer regarding at least one product in physical proximity to said customer, said personalized message based on one or more attributes of said customer.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said physical proximity is determined based on an identifier associated with said customer.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a physical location of said customer is determined based on biometric information.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said identifier associated with said customer is an RFID tag.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a physical location of said product is determined using an RFID tag associated with said product.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said determining step determines said personalized message based on one or more personalized message rules.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said personalized message rules includes one or more trigger conditions and a corresponding personalized message.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said attributes of said customer includes a status of whether said customer belongs to a reward program.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said attributes of said customer includes a purchase history.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said attributes of said customer includes customer preferences.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said personalized message is further based on one or more attributes of said product.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said attributes of said product includes cautionary information.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said personalized message provides dietary information relevant to said customer and said at least one product.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said personalized message provides safety information relevant to said customer and said at least one product.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said physical proximity is determined based on physical contact between said customer and said at least one product.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said physical proximity is determined based on said customer and said at least one product being within a field of the same RFID reader.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said physical proximity is determined based on said customer and said at least one product being in the same sector of a given location.  
     
     
         37 . A system for determining a price of a product for a customer, said system comprising: 
 a memory; and    at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to:    determine a personalized price for at least one product in physical proximity to said customer, said personalized price providing a discount from a regular price.    
     
     
         38 . An article of manufacture for determining a price of a product for a customer, comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of: 
 determine a personalized price for at least one product in physical proximity to said customer, said personalized price providing a discount from a regular price.    
     
     
         39 . A system for determining a message to present to a customer, said system comprising: 
 a memory; and    at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to:    determine a personalized message to present to said customer regarding at least one product in physical proximity to said customer, said personalized message based on one or more attributes of said customer.    
     
     
         40 . An article of manufacture for determining a message to present to a customer, comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of: 
 determining a personalized message to present to said customer regarding at least one product in physical proximity to said customer, said personalized message based on one or more attributes of said customer.