Article-identification and location device systems and methods of using same

A method for helping users find an item set aside for them in or near a building, the method comprising:

• storing, in memory of an article-identification-and-location device, a unique identifier associated with both an item and user information about a user;
• putting the article-identification-and-location device on, with, or attaching the article-identification-and-location device to the item set aside in response to a request by the user;
• providing the unique identifier stored in the memory of the article-identification-and-location device to a user who has requested an item be set aside for self-pickup;
• receiving, by the article-identification-and-location device, radiofrequency (RF) signals transmitted by a mobile device carried by the user who is on or near building premises;
• acquiring, by the article-identification-and-location device, information from the received RF signals transmitted by the mobile device carried by the user who is on or near building premises;
• comparing, by the article-identification-and-location device, the information acquired from the RF signals with the unique identifier stored in the memory of the article-identification-and-location device;
• and
• illuminating a light, by the article-identification-and-location device, if the information acquired from the RF signals matches the unique identifier stored in the memory.

A system comprising:

• an indicator;
• one or more article-identification-and-location devices, each article-identification-and-location device including a radiofrequency (RF) receiver, a memory storing a unique identifier and a processor in communication with the RF receiver and the indicator, the processor being configured to acquire information from RF signals received by the RF receiver from an RF transmitter of a mobile device possessed by a user and to turn on the indicator in response to the information acquired from the RF signals, a given one of the one or more article-identification-and-location devices being placed with an item set aside for pickup by the user, the unique identifier associated with both the item and user information about the user;
• and
• a network including one or more RF transceivers and a computing system, the computing system being configured to cause the one or more RF transceivers including the RF transmitter of the mobile device to transmit the RF signals with the information that causes the processor of the given article-identification-and-location device to turn on the indicator in response to becoming aware that the user has arrived to pick up the set-aside item.