Product information system for shoppers

A product information system for providing a shopper with current, accurate product information on individual products within a retail establishment which uses bar code scanners at cashier counters to record shopper purchases, said product information system comprising:

• a) a plurality of stand-alone, portable, remote product information units, one of which is to be provided for each of said shoppers within said establishment who desire access to said product information, each of said stand-alone, portable remote product information units including:
• i) a bar code scanning device capable of decoding bar codes on individual products,
• ii) a microcomputer operatively connected to said bar code scanning device and having database memory capable of storing and retrieving updatable product information related to each bar code,
• iii) means for displaying said product information to said shopper, and operatively connected to said microcomputer,
• iv) control means operatively connected to said microcomputer for providing each shopper with limited user-function control of said microcomputer, including manipulation of selected product information,
• v) a rechargeable battery operatively connected to and supplying electrical power to said stand-alone, portable, remote product information unit through an external connection mechanism by which said rechargeable battery can be recharged, and
• vi) an input device operatively connected to said microcomputer through which said database memory can be updated;
• b) a central maintenance system, including:
• i) a data update system operatively associated with each of said input devices of said plurality of stand-alone, portable, remote product information units for updating said stand-alone, portable, remote product information units with updated product information related to each of said bar codes, such that said stand-alone, portable, remote product information units are removable from said data update system for use by respective shoppers, and are restorable on said data update system after use by said shoppers so as to be updated with said updated product information, said data update system further comprising means for assuring that each of said stand-alone, portable, remote product information units is not removed from said data update system before it has been updated with updated product information;
• and
• ii) an electrical power bus operatively connecting to said stand-alone, portable, remote product information unit through an external connection mechanism, said electrical power bus providing means by which said rechargeable battery of said stand-alone, portable, remote product information unit can be recharged;
• and
• c) means for supplying said data update system with updated product information, including product pricing information, such that said stand-alone, portable, remote product information units are provided with the same updated product pricing information as provided at said bar code scanners at said cashier counters.

A central maintenance system for maintaining a plurality of stand-alone, portable, remote product information units that are provided for shoppers within a retail establishment which uses bar code scanners at cashier counters to record shopper purchases, wherein, said stand-alone, portable, remote product information units include a bar code scanning device for decoding bar codes on individual products, a microcomputer operatively connected to said bar code scanning device having a database memory for storing and retrieving updatable product information related to each of said bar codes, a rechargeable battery operatively connected to said microcomputer for supplying electrical power thereto, an external connection mechanism operatively connectable to said rechargeable battery, and through which said rechargeable battery can be recharged, and an input device operatively connected to said microcomputer through which said database memory can be updated, said central maintenance system further comprising:

• a) a data update system operatively associated with each of said input devices of said plurality of stand-alone, portable, remote product information units for updating said stand-alone, portable, remote product information units with updated product information related to each of said bar codes, such that said stand-alone, portable, remote product information units are removable from said data update system for use by respective shoppers, and are restorable on said data update system after use by said shoppers so as to be updated with said updated product information, including product pricing information, such that said stand-alone, portable, remote product information units are provided with the same updated product information as provided at said bar code scanners at said cashier counters, said data update system further comprising means for assuring that each of said stand-alone, portable, remote product information units is not removed from said data update system before it has been updated with updated product information, and
• b) an electrical power bus operatively connecting to said stand-alone, portable, remote product information unit through an external connection mechanism, said electrical power bus providing means by which said rechargeable battery of said stand-alone, portable, remote product information unit can be recharged.

A method of providing shoppers with current, accurate information on individual products within a retail establishment which uses bar code scanners at cashier's counters to record products of said shopper's purchase, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

• a) providing a plurality of stand-alone, portable remote units for each of said shoppers within said establishment who desire access to said product information, each of said remote units, including:
• 1) a bar code scanning device capable of decoding bar codes on individual products,
• 2) a microcomputer with database memory capable of storing and retrieving updatable product information related to each of said bar codes;
• 3) means for displaying said product information to said shopper,
• 4) means for providing said shopper with limited user-function control of said microcomputer, including manipulation of selected product information,
• 5) means for supplying said remote unit with electrical power, and
• 6) an input device through which said database memory can be updated when said unit is not being used by said shopper;
• b) retrieving said remote units from each of said shoppers subsequent to a finished purchase;
• c) updating said remote units with updated product information, including product pricing information, through said input device, such that said bar code scanners at said cashier's counters and said remote units are provided with exactly the same updated product pricing information;
• and
• d) providing said updated remote units for further use by said shoppers.

A method of providing shoppers with current, accurate information on individual products within a retail establishment which uses bar code scanners at cashier's counters to record products of said shopper's purchase, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

• a) providing a plurality of stand-alone, portable remote units for each of said shoppers within said establishment who desire access to said product information, each of said remote units, including:
• 1) a bar code scanning device capable of decoding bar codes on individual products,
• 2) a microcomputer with database memory capable of storing and retrieving updatable product information related to each of said bar codes;
• 3) means for displaying said product information to said shopper,
• 4) means for providing said shopper with limited user-function control of said microcomputer, including manipulation of selected product information,
• 5) a rechargeable battery for supplying electrical power to said unit and an external connection mechanism through which said rechargeable battery can be recharged, and
• 6) an input device through which said database memory can be updated when said unit is not being used by said shopper;
• b) retrieving said remote units from each of said shoppers subsequent to a finished purchase;
• c) updating said remote units with updated product information, including product pricing information, through said input device, such that said bar code scanners at said cashier's counters and said remote units are provided with exactly the same updated product pricing information;
• d) recharging said rechargeable batteries through said extension mechanism;
• and
• e) providing said updated, recharged remote units for further use by said shoppers.

A method of using a stand-alone, portable remote bar code scanning unit including, a bar code scanning device capable of decoding bar codes, a microcomputer with database memory capable of storing and retrieving updatable product information related to each of said bar codes, means for displaying said product information, means for providing said shopper with limited user-function control of said microcomputer, means for supplying said unit with electrical power, and an input device through which said database memory can be updated, wherein said new use comprises:

• a) providing said remote unit to shoppers within a retail establishment which uses bar code scanners at cashier's counters to record products of said shopper's purchase;
• b) retrieving said remote units from each of said shoppers subsequent to a finished purchase;
• c) updating said remote units with at least updated pricing information such that said bar code scanners at said cashier's counters and said remote units are provided with the same updated product pricing information;
• and
• d) providing said updated, recharged remote units for further use by said shoppers.