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Description  |
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BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
This invention relates to retail trading systems.
The invention is particularly concerned with systems for trading large
items that need to be delivered to rather than carried away by the
customer, and items that may customized at least to some extent or fitted.
An example is carpets, which are large and require fitting.
If a carpet retail outlet is to carry a comprehensive inventory of carpets,
it must necessarily be housed in premises of some size, which, in a prime
shopping area, would involve high rent and rates. It is usual therefore to
site such premises out of town. Nevertheless, there are problems involved
with the display of many carpets, and customers can find it daunting to
select from extensive arrays of patterns, textures and colourways.
Moreover, the carrying of such a comprehensive stock as will at least
permit inspection "in the piece" is itself an expensive business.
Accordingly, there is a tendency to sell carpet by sample. The retail
premises need carry no or hardly any stock, and can be accommodated in
more compact premises far less expensively, even on prime retail sites.
However, a disadvantage of this is that it is difficult for customers to
appreciate, from a small sample, how a carpet will look in their room
setting, and how it will relate to their furniture and other effects, for
example. Sometimes photographs of a "typical" room are included in a
pattern swatch.
Sale by sample involves, moreover, the preparation of a transaction record
on the basis of a sample identifier--usually an alphanumeric code. The
identifier is often on an adhesive ticket, and mistakes can arise through
loss of or damage to, misreading or wrongly transcribing the identifier.
The present invention provides a system by which these disadvantages can be
avoided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises a system for retail trading comprising an image
storage arrangement storing images of items being traded, an image index
arrangement connected with the said storage arrangement and containing
identifiers for the images therein, an image retrieval arrangement and
display means for displaying retrieved images, and a transaction data
processing arrangement including a data input arrangement and by which the
displayed image identifier is automatically input from the index
arrangement.
Said image storage arrangement may comprise video disc means and said
display means a video screen.
Said input arrangement may comprise an alphanumeric keyboard.
Said input arrangement may comprise a special function key operable to put
the input arrangement into a transaction specifying mode in which the
identifier for the currently displayed image is automatically input from
the index arrangement into a transaction record.
Said input arrangement may comprise a special function key operable to put
the input arrangement into an image retrieval mode.
The image index arrangement may contain a categorized image index, and the
said retrieval arrangement may then be operable to retrieve images on a
category basis, preferably, selectively, images falling into two or more
categories. Such retrieved images may be automatically displayable
sequentially.
The stored images may be composite images comprising a first image
component generated from an item being traded and a second image component
generated by computer software. The two components of the composite image
may be held in different parts of the said image storage arrangement. The
second component may comprise colourway information. The first image
component may be associated with mask information limiting the displayed
area of the second image component to the area not occupied by the first
image component.
The system may also comprise colour input means connectable to said image
retrieval arrangement and operable to cause said image retrieval
arrangement to select only images having colourways related to a colour
input via said colour input means.
The system may also be operable to display price and/or availability
information with a selected image.
The system may have means for connection to a remote station for
transmission of transaction information to said remote station and
transmission of price and/or availability information from said station.
The invention comprises an interactive video system for retailing
merchandise comprising:
a database containing data relating to said merchandise;
an image store storing images of said merchandise;
image retrieval and display means for retrieving
and displaying images from said image store; and
a control arrangement interconnecting said database, said image store and
said images retrieval and display means and having an operator input
arrangement and an information output arrangement additional to said image
display means.
The said information output arrangement may comprise a digitized voice
reproducing arrangement, which may be under the control of the said
control arrangement so as to output stored voice information relevant to
an image being currently displayed.
The control arrangement may include a touch screen arrangement and the
images include touch screen "keys". One of such "keys" may comprise a
"voice repeat" key, touching which causes a section of voice information
to repeated. Voice information may be divided into short complete messages
and the control arrangement may then be inoperable to interrupt a message.
The system may have more than one input arrangement for control purposes.
One input may comprise an alphanumeric keyboard. This is a relatively
"user unfriendly" arrangement, however, if it has to be operable by
customers, who may have no keyboard skills. However, it is a very flexible
arrangement, so far as the scope of data and control input it can handle
is concerned, and will be useful as a trained operator input arrangement.
One input may comprise a bar code reader and the system may include printed
matter carrying visual information (which may be words and/or pictures)
representative of sections of the database and image store and bar codes
coding for such sections whereby such sections can be accessed by the bar
code reader. Such an arrangement can be useful for selecting categories of
merchandise, for example design styles (e.g. in a furniture context,
Victorian, contemporary and so on) or materials or bedroom furniture,
lounge furniture and so on. A bar code adjacent a picture or verbal
description of a category can move the image pointer to the beginning of a
sequence relating to that category.
Such printed matter may comprise cards, and the bar code reader may then
comprise a swipe reader. Such printed matter may, however, comprise books,
brochures, catalogues and the like which cannot be "swiped" and the bar
code reader may then be of the wand type. Both kinds may, of course, be
provided in the same system.
One input may comprise a "smart card" reader. Such a device may be operable
to handle transaction data from customers' cards. It may also be operable
to handle retail staff operator training (whether in aspects of the
interactive video system or otherwise) by for example keying the system
into operator training mode and recording in the "smart card" memory
details of training successfully completed for a particular operator and
from such details, to activate the system to begin a new training session
having regard to the recoded data on training successfully completed.
Of course, one input can comprise a magnetic card swipe reader for handling
regular credit card transactions.
The system may also comprise recorder means for recording details of a
retailing session. Such recorder means may comprise a video cassette
recorder and the control arrangement may include a "session" memory in
which image pointers are stored during a session for recall at the end of
a session to rerun the program for input to the recorder means. In this
way, the images a customer has seen together, of course, with the
associated text and voice data, can be recorded for review on a separate,
e.g. domestic video cassette recorder.
The system may also comprise cash till means, which may be part of the
transaction data processing arrangement described in U.S. Pat. No.
2,177,245 aforementioned.
The various measures referred to may be used individually or in any desired
combination to enhance the effectiveness of the system and make it easier
for untrained operators to retrieve information and associated images and
carry out a transaction thereon with or without the help of a trained
assistant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of systems for retail transaction will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a system for retail
transactions, e.g. selling carpets;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of an image storage and indexing
arrangement;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an image retrieval arrangement
operable to retrieve images on a category basis;
FIG. 4 is a representation of a composite of a retrieved image on a
background;
FIG. 5 is a representation of another composite image;
FIG. 6 is a representation of a component of the image shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of another system embodiment of the
invention having audio and visual components for interactive operation;
FIG. 8 is a depiction of a typical "touch screen" image in the system of
FIG. 7; and
FIG. 9 is an illustration of a bar code reader for reading a swipe card
presented by the system user.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The system for retail trading illustrated in the drawings comprises an
image storage arrangement 11 storing images of items being traded such for
example as carpets, furniture, clothing, household textiles, homewares and
even motor vehicles. The image storage arrangement 11 may comprise a video
disc arrangement of the kind, commercially available, that have controlled
access to images stored thereon so that a single video frame can be
addressed. A Phillips Laservision VP35 disc player is suitable.
The storage arrangement can also comprise a frame store 11a for storing
image information in digital form for use in image processing
applications, referred to below.
An image index arrangement 12, connected with the storage arrangement 11,
contains identifiers--for example--alphanumeric codes 21 in digital
form--in random access memory (FIG. 2) having common memory addresses 23
with the address of the individual images 24 in the image store 11.
A video screen 13 receives video signals from the image store 11.
Individual images/frames are retrieved from the index arrangement 12 by an
image retrieval arrangement 14 controlled by signals from an input
arrangement 15 comprising a standard alphanumeric keyboard which is part
of a transaction data processing arrangement 16 which also includes a data
output arrangement 17 which may comprise a printer or a visual display
unit or a modem connecting the arrangement to a remote arrangement adapted
to receive the data or simply a storage arrangement connectable to any of
the above for subsequent interrogation.
Associated with the index arrangement 12 can also be a database 18
accessible in the same way and containing information on price and/or
availability of items which images are stored in the image storage
arrangement 11. Information from the database 18 can be called up to
appear on the video screen 13, either superimposed on the video image or
on a separate screen alternatable with the video image. A dedicated or
special function key on the keyboard 15 can be used to call for (and
cancel) the information display.
Likewise, a special function key on the keyboard 15 is operable to put the
input arrangement 16 into a transaction specifying mode in which the
identifier for the currently displayed image is automatically input from
the index arrangement 12 into the output arrangement 17 as part of a
transaction record. The remainder of the record--date, customer's name and
address, number of items ordered, price, credit details, discount, method
of payment, delivery date and so on--can be entered from the keyboard.
More sophisticated programming can permit information from the database
being available--say price--and operated on by standard operators--say
price multiplied by (keyboard input) number of items can given gross
price, operated on in turn by a standard discounting arrangement (say 5%
off for cash), or by a standard credit arrangement so as to add on a
percentage interest and divide the total by twelve or twenty four to give
a monthly payment.
Software for this transaction specifying mode of the input arrangement can
be, with considerable user advantage, menu driven. The first menu might
for example contain the following options:
Display details
Place Order
Selecting "Display details" (by whatever means is chosen, say by moving,
using the keyboard space bar or line feed key, a cursor or selection
device next to "Display details" on the screen) throws up on to the screen
the details of price/availability held in the database 18, together with a
prompt that might say "Press Cancel to exit". Selecting "Place order" can
call up a series of prompts such as "Enter customer's name", "Enter
customer's address", and "Enter amount required", as well as subsidiary
menus such as
Payment method:
Cash
Credit
Cheque
Credit card
which might then have another menu called up, in the event "Credit card" is
selected listing accepted cards.
The keyboard 15 also has a special function key putting it into an image
selection mode. This may also be menu driven, the menus offering choices
depending on the items being traded.
For selling carpets, a typical first menu might comprise a choice of price
ranges, followed by a menu offering a choice of plain or pattered, another
offering a choice of construction, another, pile type, and another colour.
The identifier used in the index arrangement 12 may contain coding, as
illustrated in FIG. 3 categorizing the items into the choice indicated
above or such other choices as may be appropriate to whatever item is
being traded. For example the first symbol in the identifier might
indicate a price range, the second whether the carpet is plain (1) or
patterned (2), the third the choice of construction (e.g. Wilton,
Axminster, tufted, foam-backed, etc) and so on.
The keyboard 15 might then, by pressing an appropriate key, be put into an
automatic sequencing mode, in which all carpets conforming to the
selection are displayed in sequence, a `pause` key being available for
taking a longer look than the automatic sequence allows (which might be
just a few seconds for instance). Or the sequencing might be, at will,
effected manually be pressing an "Advance" key. In any event, the selected
image is displayed on the video screen 11 and the associated identifier
made available to the transaction data processing arrangement 17 as well
as the associated database information being made available both to the
screen 13 and the processing arrangement 17.
The images stored in the storage arrangement can with advantage show the
item against a background--a carpet, for example, can be shown in a room
setting and the same carpet can be shown in different room settings to
help the customer choose the ideal carpet, whether as to colourway, or
size or nature of pattern, for his decorating scheme or furniture.
Each image can of course be complete in itself, so that to cover one carpet
in ten different room settings, ten image frames are provided in the
storage arrangement 11. Such ten image frames can be produced by imaging
an actual carpet in ten different actual rooms. This will clearly produce
visual images of high quality, but may be tedious and costly in practice.
The ten images may, on the other hand, be composite images, in which, for
example, only the carpet is imaged from an actual carpet, the remainder of
the image being computer generated, either from scratch or from an image
of an actual room which has been imageprocessed so that for example the
colours of the walls, ceiling and woodwork are false, and are different or
in different combinations (or colourways) for each of the ten images. FIG.
4 is a representation of such a composite image where the carpet area 41
of the image, which is produced from a video picture of an actual carpet,
is used together with a setting or background image component 42. A series
of such images is produced with different false colour colourways for the
background image component 42.
FIG. 5 shows another composite image in which an image 51--shot from
actuality--of a chair is shown against a room background 52. FIG. 6 shows
the background 52 only, which may be so simple as to be readily
computer-generated without the need to realize the same in practice. The
chair image 51 is accompanied by masking information which cancels the
background component of the computer generated image, so as not to
interfere with the real image component. In this way, differently shaped
chairs or other articles can be shown against the same background, and the
background may itself be changed as to colourway (among other things) so
as to provide a series of composite images. The colourway information can
be a part of the computer software and provide operators acting on a basic
computer generated setting design to change the colourway. In this way,
the provision of a selected twenty (say) channels is provided in software
instead of requiring twenty separate video frames to be stored.
This could, alternatively, be a way of generating video frames for storage,
which would reduce computation and hence access time. However, where the
changing information in the screen is background information, it may be
desirable first to locate the item being traded and then to apply software
to change the background through a sequence of colours.
A colour sensor 19 (FIG. 1) can be used to select retrieved frames to a
colour of a sample, perhaps a favorite curtain material or piece of
furniture, proffered for its examination by an intending purchaser.
Instead of actually bringing in a sample (which might be difficult in the
case of a large item of furniture) a colour matching card can be supplied
to be compared with the original and brought in instead for examination.
The colour sensed can then be translated into an appropriate colour code
and used instead of a keyboard input to select a colour category.
The invention is not to be limited to the precise details described and
illustrated. The video screen 13 could, for example, be replaced by any
other suitable display arrangement such for example as a slide projector.
Another embodiment of a system for retail transactions will now be
described having peripheral devices under the system's control for
facilitating interactive operation by users of the system.
The system illustrated in FIG. 7 comprises a computer 111 including a high
capacity disc store 112 which contains, inter alia, a database containing
data relating to merchandise being marketed, and an image store, namely a
video disc 113 storing images of said merchandise.
Thus the video disc 113 may contain images of furniture and furnishings in
a range being marketed from a retail establishment, and the database may
comprise data relating to such images for example available colours or
colourways, stock numbers, quantities in stock, where the stock is held,
price, manufacturer, available options and so on.
The system also comprises image retrieval and display means for retrieving
and displaying images from the video disc 113, namely video disc player
114 controlled by signals from the computer 111 serving video screen 115.
The computer 111 comprises a control arrangement which interconnects said
database, said image store and said image retrieval and display means so
that images can be retrieved and displayed and information from the
database retrieved for association with the retrieved and displayed
images. Such association may take several forms, as will be hereinafter
further explained.
The control arrangement, which is to say, the computer 111, has an operator
input arrangement comprising various elements as will be hereinafter
further explained. It also has an information output arrangement
additional to said image display means.
Such additional information output arrangement comprises in this embodiment
a digitized voice reproducing arrangement. The digitized voice information
is stored as digital data in the computer hard disc memory 112 and
reproduced via a digital-to-analogue converter 116 in the computer 111 as
stereo audio signals passed to speakers 117.
The voice information can comprise instructions guiding an operator in the
use of the system. Thus the voice information may comprise a request
associated with a touch screen display to touch a "key" area on the screen
to secure a desired result, for example to cause the system to enter one
of a number of different modes of operation or to select a given category
of images, or it might comprise a description of the displayed image or a
recital of factual data concerning the same such as prices, availability
and so on.
A primary "user friendly" operator input to the system is a touch screen
arrangement. Such an arrangement, illustrated in FIG. 8, comprises arrays
of sensors 121 along adjacent sides of the screen 122. Touching the screen
115 interrupts light falling on some of the sensors from emitters on the
opposite sides of the screen 122. "Key" areas are located on the screen by
computer-generated graphics arrangements built into the system, and these
key areas include verbal or other indications. A screen may include one or
more such key areas. As illustrated, touching key area 122 will interrupt
light to sensors 121 on the adjacent sides of the screen 122 contained
within the compass of the brackets 123. Touching a different key area 124
will affect other sensors, and the computer will recognize which of the
key areas has been touched by sensing which sensors 121 have been blocked.
Thus a plurality of key areas 122, 124 and so on can constitute a menu from
which items may be selected by touching the screen. A single key area can
permit an image sequence to be stepped through.
A "secret" key area, i.e. one not disclosed on the screen but of which its
location is known to a trained operator can be used for special trained
operator procedures, such, for example, as rapidly restoring the system to
an initial state. A special key area can be displayed during an initial
part of a session by which "subtitles" copying or summarizing voice
information can be displayed for the hard-of-hearing.
One key may control a "voice repeat" function in which voice information
about a displayed image can be repeated. Voice information can be divided
into sections each comprising a short, but complete, message, such, for
example, as "The bedspread is offered in a choice of colours, white, red,
blue, green and yellow." It may be desired to arrange that such messages
are not interrupted by an input command, e.g. via the touch screen
arrangement, but are played out. Each such message may have an end marker
that releases an electronic latch arrangement which vetos any touch
screen-entered command for so long as the end marker has not been reached.
Such message completion arrangements may add realism to the system, by
avoiding premature interruption of the current voice message, which would
not usually happen in practice in a conversation between purchaser and
salesman. The present system embodiment quite realistically mimics such a
conversation, with the customer's end of it being effect not by speech but
by the simple technique of selecting touch screen options by pointing to
them.
Other operator inputs and system outputs are used for other communication
purposes.
A primary operator input is a conventional keyboard 18 which can be used
for a multiplicity of purposes including initial program and data loading
and modification. Such purposes would normally be within the realm of
trained operators and system supervisors and this important input would
not normally be available to retail customers, not all or even many of
whom could be expected to have keyboard skills, so that it would
constitute a relatively slow method of communication.
Another input comprises bar code reader means, and these can be of two
types. A first, 131 (FIG. 9), is a swipe reader in which a card 132
bearing a suitably placed bar code 133 is "swiped" through a slot 134. The
card 123 contains printed matter in the form of text or pictorial matter
and the system can involve a set of cards which may be suitable indexed or
just browsed through in order for the customer to select a particular
category of merchandise. The relevant card chosen is swiped through the
reader 131 in order to instruct the system to display images and related
matter pertinent to that selection.
Another type of bar code reader is an optical wand 125 (FIG. 8) which can
be used to read bar codes printed in books, catalogues and the like that
cannot be "swiped"--otherwise, the operation is similar.
Another input arrangement is a magnetic card reader 129 which can handle
Access and like cards for billing purposes.
Another type of input, which also involves a system output, is a "smart
card" reader 119. "Smart cards" are essentially portable electronic
memories which can be credit card size that can be read and written into.
In one such commercially available arrangement a smart card reader is
simply a small box, connected to the computer, on which a smart card can
be placed and is then immediately in communication with the computer. The
card may comprise an electronic "key" which can be first of all
interrogated electromagnetically upon the card reader's sensing the
presence of a smart card to identify the card. According to the coding of
the "key" the computer may then switch the system to one or another mode
of operation.
A smart card may be issued to a customer and placed on the card reader 119
at the beginning of a session. The customer is at once identified to the
computer, the card containing details of the customer's name, address,
telephone number, credit rating and any other details that may be
pertinent. The card may for example contain account details and be
involved in transaction data processing in which, as a result of the
session, the customer purchases an item or items of merchandise and the
amount of a credit balance contained within the information stored in the
card is depleted in accordance with the value of the transaction. The card
may also enable the computer 111 to be put into direct contact with a
customer's bank account, via a modem to be discussed below automatically
to transfer the appropriate funds therefrom into the retail
establishment's own account.
Another way in which "smart cards" can be used is in the training of retail
personnel both to operate the system and assist customers and in product
knowledge. A retail assistant can be assigned a personal "smart card"
which will place the system into "training" mode and call | | |
