Mobile shopping assistant system and device

A mobile shopping assistant comprising:

• means for obtaining information about a selected product of interest;
• means for identifying the physical location of the mobile shopping assistant;
• means for searching a database to obtain the information about the selected product and location of similar products related to the selected product;
• and
• means for displaying the information relating to the related products and the selected product to a potential consumer,
• whereby the potential consumer is capable of making an informed purchasing decision.

A mobile shopping assistant device and system comprising:

• a handheld computer;
• a product information input device coupled to said handheld computer;
• a display output device coupled to said handheld computer;
• a global positioning system receiver coupled to said handheld computer, whereby the location of the handheld computer is capable of being determined;
• and
• a wireless communication system coupled to said handheld computer capable of communicating with a global computer network;
• and
• a price and discount server coupled to the global computer network and capable of storing price and location information about products,
• whereby said optical scanner provides product information and said price and discount server provides product pricing and location information to be provided upon request to a potential consumer.

A method of providing information to a potential consumer comprising the steps of:

• scanning a bar code associated with a selected product of interest;
• establishing a physical location of the selected product of interest;
• determining another physical location of available products substantially the same as the selected product of interest;
• comparing information about the available products relative to the selected product;
• and
• displaying the selected information,
• whereby the potential consumer is better informed to make a purchasing decision.

A method of providing information to a potential consumer about products comprising the steps of:

• scanning a bar code associated with a selected product of interest with a handheld computer;
• establishing a physical location of the selected product of interest with a global positioning system;
• transmitting the physical location of the selected product of interest to a service provider connected to a global computer network;
• coupling a price and discount server containing pre-selected information about the selected product of interest comprising price, location and discount information to the global computer network;
• storing customer information and information identifying the selected product of interest;
• searching the pre-selected information on the price and discount server for related information to the selected product of interest;
• searching the global computer network for other information related to the selected product of interest comprising price, location, and discount information for the selected product of interest;
• storing the other information related to the selected product of interest comprising price, location, and discount information for the selected product of interest on the price and discount server;
• transmitting the related information and the other information related to the selected product to the handheld computer;
• analyzing the customer information and the information identifying the selected product of interest;
• determine proposed product information related to selected items that could be of interest to the customer;
• transmitting the proposed product information to the handheld computer;
• and
• displaying the related information, the other information, and the proposed product information for viewing by the potential consumer,
• whereby the potential consumer is better informed to make a purchasing decision.