Abstract: Disclosed is a system for providing customer assistance for a product in a retail store. The customer accesses customer assistance through a mobile application on their mobile device. If available, a physical customer assistance associate provides assistance to the customer. If a physical customer assistance associate is not available, a remote customer assistance associate provides assistance to the customer. If neither a physical and/or remote customer assistance associate is available, the customer may select a comparison of the product with related in stock products. A comparison may also be selected in combination with a physical and/or remote customer assistance associate.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for synthesizing and displaying distributed data using Near Field Communication (NFC). A system includes a plurality of NFC-enabled mobile devices, a NFC base transmitter generating a Radio Frequency (RF) field, and a central computing device in electronic communication with the NFC base transmitter. Each NFC-enabled mobile device has a NFC payload encoding a unique user identifier that corresponds to a quantity of user data associated with a mobile application on that mobile device. The NFC base transmitter is configured to the NFC payload(s) of mobile devices being within a certain range of the RF field. The system is programmed to generate a plurality of user interface elements based on the quantities of user data, and instruct a display device to render a visual representation of each user interface element at display coordinates determined based on the quantities of user data.

Abstract: A system for communicating the status of a produce product in a retail store is described. The system includes a produce weigh station and a produce status station. The produce weigh station includes a produce scale and a camera. The produce weigh station uses a captured digital image of the produce product to determine a product type of the produce product being weighed, as well as a product status of the produce product. The produce status can include, for example, whether the produce product is ripe, over-ripe, or under-ripe. The produce weigh station communicates the type of the produce product, the digital image, and the produce status to the produce status station. An employee of the retail store can use the produce status station to receive the produce status information without the employee having to be present in the produce sales department.

Abstract: Disclosed is a smart shopping cart and a method of using a smart shopping cart. The smart shopping cart may hold a set of containers that the customer can place their items in as they are shopping. The customer will associate their mobile device with the physical cart as an electronic shopping cart.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments for detecting product tampering include a processor in communication with a reader. A communication device, including a memory, an electronic circuit, and an antenna coupled to the electronic circuit, is coupled to a seal on product packaging. The electronic circuit is on a first portion of the seal and the antenna is on a second portion of the seal. The reader is configured to scan for a signal from the communication device. The processor is configured to detect tampering with the seal based on a lack of signal to the reader from the communication device. Tampering with the seal causes the antenna to disconnect from the electronic circuit rendering the communication device unreadable by the reader. The communication device is configured to write data in response to the antenna being disconnected from the electronic circuit. The processor is configured to read the tampering data in the memory.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide an authentication system for granting access to an access point. The system includes a Near-Field-Communication (NFC) tag, a NFC reader and writer, and an access point coupled to the NFC reader and writer. The NFC reader and writer is configured to read the NFC tag when the access point is activated and the NFC tag is within range of the NFC reader and writer. In a first phase of authentication, the NFC reader and writer is configured to read and analyze data stored in the memory of the NFC tag to authenticate access to the access point. In a second phase of authentication, the access point is configured to receive and analyze a user input, and grant access to the access point based on analyze of the user input and success at the first phase of authentication.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for notification. A communication is established between a mobile application at a user mobile electronic device and a shopping cart. The status indicator on the shopping cart is activated having a first state indicating that the shopping cart is in use. After a checkout process is completed, the status indicator is changed to have a second state indicating the completion of the checkout process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for providing customer assistance for a product in a retail store. The customer accesses customer assistance through a mobile application on their mobile device. If available, a physical customer assistance associate provides assistance to the customer. If a physical customer assistance associate is not available, a remote customer assistance associate provides assistance to the customer. If neither a physical and/or remote customer assistance associate is available, the customer may select a comparison of the product with related in stock products. A comparison may also be selected in combination with a physical and/or remote customer assistance associate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a smart shopping cart and a method of using a smart shopping cart. The smart shopping cart may hold a set of containers that the customer can place their items in as they are shopping. The customer will associate their mobile device with the physical cart as an electronic shopping cart.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for synthesizing and displaying distributed data using Near Field Communication (NFC). A system includes a plurality of NFC-enabled mobile devices, a NFC base transmitter generating a Radio Frequency (RF) field, and a central computing device in electronic communication with the NFC base transmitter. Each NFC-enabled mobile device has a NFC payload encoding a unique user identifier that corresponds to a quantity of user data associated with a mobile application on that mobile device. The NFC base transmitter is configured to the NFC payload(s) of mobile devices being within a certain range of the RF field. The system is programmed to generate a plurality of user interface elements based on the quantities of user data, and instruct a display device to render a visual representation of each user interface element at display coordinates determined based on the quantities of user data.

Abstract: A system for communicating the status of a produce product in a retail store is described. The system includes a produce weigh station and a produce status station. The produce weigh station includes a produce scale and a camera. The produce weigh station uses a captured digital image of the produce product to determine a product type of the produce product being weighed, as well as a product status of the produce product. The produce status can include, for example, whether the produce product is ripe, over-ripe, or under-ripe. The produce weigh station communicates the type of the produce product, the digital image, and the produce status to the produce status station. An employee of the retail store can use the produce status station to receive the produce status information without the employee having to be present in the produce sales department.

Abstract: Provided is a NFC to customer profile system and method for personalized shopping. The system includes a mobile NFC reading device comprising a memory and a processor. The memory stores a user profile having constraints and software logic. The system also includes an NFC tag corresponding to an item for sale. The NFC tag comprising item information of the item for sale and located adjacent to or on the item for sale. The mobile NFC reading device communicates with NFC tag to receive the item information. The processor of mobile NFC reading device executes the software logic to process the item information and compare the item information with the user profile. The mobile NFC reading device notifies a user in response to a determination that the item information is not within the constraints of the user profile. Further, the system operates without a network connection.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating self-shopping in an enterprise comprise a support surface for supporting items. The support surface has a near-field communication (NFC) label coupled thereto. A computing system receives a radio frequency (RF) communication transmitted by a mobile device in response to the mobile device being placed near enough to the NFC label to read the NFC label. The RF communication conveys information read from the NFC label. The computing system comprises a processor programmed to determine an item associated with the NFC label based on the information conveyed by the RF communication, determine that the support surface has an insufficient quantity of the item, and cause a message to be automatically transmitted an electronic message to personnel indicating that the shelf requires restocking of the item.