>114. As one example, mobile device 113 may be programmable to detect tags in three different ranges. If tags 111 and 116A-116E are implemented as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy tags), there may be three ranges for use by mobile device 113 and tags 111 and 116A-116E: an “immediate” range (within roughly a few centimeters of mobile device 113), a “near” range (within roughly 5 meters of mobile device 113), and a “far” range (within roughly ten meters from mobile device 113). These ranges are approximate and may depend, in part, on the conditions in which the detection takes place. For example, if there is a lot of electromagnetic noise or interference from other tags in the same area, these distances may be reduced. Similarly, repeaters may exist to receive and retransmit signals, which may increase these distances. Detection zone 114 may differ based on what mobile device 113 is configured to detect (e.g., by the user or by software on mobile device 113).

Product tags 116A-116E, in some embodiments, may be attached to or otherwise associated with items such as 115A-115E, respectively. Each product tag, as explained above with respect to database 107, may include a unique identifier and/or other information identifying an item to which a tag is attached. In some embodiments, tags 116A-116E may be implemented as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags. Tags 116A-116E may also include sensors such as temperature sensors, weight sensors, motion sensors, accelerometers, or the like.

In exemplary FIG. 1, items 115A, 115B, and 115C are all in a shopping cart 119 associated with a user holding mobile device 113. Tags 116A, 116B, and 116C may include respective information about each item, such as a unique identifier for the associated tag, a price of the item, a description of the item, or the like.

Tag 116D (affixed to good 115D) is outside of detection zone 114. When mobile device 113 attempts to read data from tags inside of detection zone 114, mobile device 113 may not receive any data from tag 116D as it is outside of detection zone 114. As another example, if a user initially possessed item 115D (e.g., in cart 119) but placed it back on a shelf or left it with a store clerk, mobile device 113 may no longer detect item 115D, and may then determine that the consumer no longer desires to acquire that item, and may prompt the user to confirm that item 115D is no longer desired and/or remove it from a list.

Tag 116E (affixed to heavy item 115E) is also outside of detection zone 114. Tag 116E, however, may include data that indicates that heavy item 115E is not easily moved, requires store clerk assistance to purchase, and/or is intended to be shipped to a consumer's home. In each of these situations, item 115E need not always be within detection zone 114 in order for a consumer to purchase it. As explained below, in some embodiments, a consumer may confirm a desire to purchase good 115E but may not need to keep the good inside of detection zone 114 in order to maintain it on a list or electronic shopping cart maintained on mobile device 113. (In other embodiments, item 115E may not be “heavy,” but may be an item otherwise not suitable to be carried by a user or placed in a cart/basket, such as a magazine subscription or digital good).

In one example embodiment, tags 111 and 116A-116E may also be implemented using Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology. In another embodiment, tags 111 and 116A-116E may be implemented using BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) devices implementing the Apple iBeacon standard. Other embodiments using other types of tags or sensors are possible as well (such as Bluetooth, RFID, or the like).

It is to be understood that the configuration and boundaries of the functional building blocks of system 100 have been defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternative boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. Alternatives (including equivalents, extensions, variations, deviations, etc., of those described herein) will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. For example, financial service provider system 103 and merchant device 105 may constitute a part of components of system 100 other than those specifically described, or may constitute a part of multiple components of system 100 (i.e., a distributed system).

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary electronic system 200 consistent with disclosed embodiments. Variations of exemplary system 200 may be used to implement portions or all of devices of system 100, such as financial service provider 103, merchant device 105, database 107, POS device 109, and/or mobile device 113. In one embodiment, system 200 may comprise one or more processors 221, one or more input/output (I/O) devices 222, and one or more memories 223. In some embodiments, system 200 may take the form of a server, general purpose computer, mainframe computer, or the like. In some embodiments, system 200 may take the form of a mobile computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer, or the like. Alternatively, system 200 may be configured as a particular apparatus, embedded system, dedicated circuit, or the like, based on the storage, execution, and/or implementation of the software instructions that perform one or more operations consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Processor(s) 221 may include one or more known processing devices, such as mobile device microprocessors, desktop microprocessors, server microprocessors, or the like. The disclosed embodiments are not limited to a particular type of processor.

Memory 223 may include one or more storage devices configured to store instructions usable by processor 221 to perform functions related to the disclosed embodiments. For example, memory 223 may be configured with one or more software instructions, such as program(s) 224 that perform one or more operations when executed by processor 221. The disclosed embodiments are not limited to separate programs or computers configured to perform dedicated tasks. For example, memory 223 may include a single program or multiple programs that perform the functions of mobile device 130. Memory 223 may also store data 225 that is used by one or more programs 224.

In certain embodiments, memory 223 may store software executable by processor(s) 221 to perform one or more methods, such as the methods represented by the flowcharts depicted in FIGS. 4A-4C and/or the methods associated with user interfaces in FIGS. 5A-5D.

I/O devices 222 may be one or more devices configured to allow data to be received and/or transmitted by system 200. I/O devices 222 may include one or more digital and/or analog devices that allow system 200 to communicate with other machines and devices, such as other components of system 100. For example, I/O devices 222 may include a screen for displaying messages to a user (such as a consumer). I/O devices 222 may also include one or more digital and/or analog devices that allow a user to interact with system 200 such as a touch-sensitive area, keyboard, buttons, or microphones. I/O devices 222 may also include other components known in the art for interacting with a user. I/O devices 222 may also include one or more hardware/software components for communicating with other components of system 100. For example, I/O devices 222 may include a wired network adapter, a wireless network adapter, a cellular network adapter, or the like. Such network components enable system 200 to communicate with other systems to send and receive data.

The components of system 200 may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both hardware and software, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, although one or more components of system 200 may be implemented as computer processing instructions, all or a portion of the functionality of system 200 may be implemented instead in dedicated electronics hardware.

FIG. 3A is a diagram of an exemplary item 301 that can be moved by a user and a corresponding tag 302. Item 301 may be a small item that fits inside of a shopping cart, a shopping basket, or a user's arms. For example, item 301 is depicted as a cereal box. Item 301 is associated with tag 302. In some embodiments, for an item that can be easily transported by a user, such as a cereal box, tags are attached to the outside or the inside of the item to enable easy capture of the tag by a device (such as POS device 109 or mobile device 113). As explained above, tag 302 may contain a unique identifier or other information about item 301, such as a price, a name, a weight, or the like.

When a consumer holding or using mobile device 113 picks up cereal box 301, cercal box 301 may enter the scanning range of mobile device 113. Mobile device 113 may read tag 302, may determine that tag 302 is related to an item that can be carried by the user, and may place item 302 onto a list associated with mobile device 113 (e.g., an electronic shopping cart).

FIG. 3B is a diagram of an exemplary item 304 that may not be readily movable (e.g., suitable for being carried, set in a shopping cart, etc.) by a consumer and a corresponding tag 305. Promotional area 303 includes a television 304 and a tag 305. A consumer may be unable to readily carry television 304 because the consumer does not have a cart large enough to carry it, because it is too heavy, because the default delivery option for television 304 is shipment to the consumer's home, etc. In these embodiments, tag 305 may not be affixed to or otherwise attached to item 304 because the consumer will not carry item 304 to a POS device 109 or checkout zone 112. Rather, a consumer holding or using mobile device 113 may stand in the vicinity of tag 305. Tag 305 may include information that indicates to mobile device 113 that item 304 is too large to be carried by the consumer.

When a consumer holding or using mobile device 113 stands near tag 305, mobile device 113 may read tag 305, may determine that tag 305 is related to an item (television 304) that cannot be carried by the user, may prompt the user to learn more about television 304, add television 304 to a list associated with mobile device 113 (e.g., an electronic shopping cart), ship television 304 to a particular address, request that a store clerk bring television 304 to an area for later pickup, etc.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart of an exemplary process for discovering items associated with tags 400 using a mobile device 113. The process begins with step 401, where mobile device 113 enters a scan mode. As explained above, mobile device 113 may scan for tags in a particular zone surrounding mobile device 113. For example, step 401 may represent mobile device 113 scanning for tags in “near” mode (finding, for example, tags that are within five meters of mobile device 113).

Tag 400 may also begin transmitting data in step 402. In some embodiments, for example, embodiments where tag 400 is implemented as a Bluetooth Low Energy tag, tag 400 may transmit data at the end of a time interval (e.g., such as every 500 ms). So, in embodiments where tag 400 is a powered tag, step 402 may represent a periodic sending of data by tag 400. In other embodiments, such as those where passive RFID or other non-powered tags are used, tag 400 may only transmit data when it receives ambient energy transmitted by mobile device 113 (e.g., emitting a signal after receiving energy from radio waves generated by mobile device 113). Thus, in embodiments where tag 400 is a non-powered tag, step 402 may represent tag 400 receiving electromagnetic energy from mobile device 113 and using that energy to transmit data stored in tag 400.

In step 403, mobile device 113 may receive the data advertised by tag 400 and may determine what the data represents. For example, mobile device 113 may receive one or more identifiers (unique or non-unique) stored on tag 400. Step 403 may also represent mobile device 113 sending one or more of these identifiers to a device (e.g., sending to merchant device 105 via network 101) to request information about tag 400 or the item that tag 400 is associated with. For example, mobile device 113 may receive a 128-bit UUID such as ‘a326e1d9-edic-427f-87e9-2d3a46bf6342’ from tag 400. Mobile device 113 may also receive a “major” identifier such as ‘01’ and a “minor” identifier such as ‘a5.’ (In some embodiments, the major and minor identifiers may be used to identify differences between similar items, such as a placement or a localization of the item.) Mobile device 113 may then send the UUID and the major and/or minor identifiers to merchant device 105. In step 404, merchant device 404 may retrieve one or more records associated with at least one of the received identifiers (UUID, major, minor, etc.) from a database (such as database 107), and return the information to mobile device 113. (In another embodiment, mobile device 113 may retrieve the records from database 107 directly).

In step 405, mobile device 113 may determine whether to add the information received from merchant device 105 to a list. This list may be, for example, a shopping cart or other list stored on mobile device 113.

In some embodiments, step 405 may occur automatically. For example, mobile device 113 may be programmed to detect tag 400, determine that tag 400 is associated with an item that is easily carried by a consumer (e.g., a box of cereal), and determines that it should be added to a list on mobile device 113. Similarly, for other items associated with a tag 400, mobile device 113 may prompt the consumer to approve the adding of an item to a shopping cart. For example, if a consumer walks through an aisle of 60-inch televisions, mobile device 113 may present one or more of the televisions to the consumer requesting that the consumer confirm the addition to the shopping cart. (This avoids, for example, a consumer accidentally purchasing ten TVs in the same shopping trip).

If the consumer does not wish to add the item to the list, or the mobile device 113 determines that the item should not be added to the list (e.g., because the tag 400 exited the range of mobile device 113 or the item is not eligible to be added to the list), the process may return to step 403 to read data from any other tags in the vicinity of mobile device 113. If, however, mobile device 113 determines to add the item to the list, the process continues to step 407.

In step 407, mobile device 113 determines whether or not to ship the item associated with tag 400. For example, if the consumer has approached a large item that cannot readily be carried in a shopping cart either because of size or logistics (e.g., a three-person kayak, a vacation package, a magazine subscription, etc.), mobile device 113 may prompt the user to accept shipment of the item, for example, to a home address of the consumer stored in database 107. If the consumer wishes the item brought to the front of the store, mobile device 113 may send a message indicating this to merchant device. The process may then continue to step 408, where merchant device 105 may initiate shipment of the item. This includes, for example, notifying a store clerk (e.g., by sending a message to a wireless device held by the clerk) to obtain the item from a storeroom, find a box large enough to ship the item, determine pricing for the item, determine shipment options, etc. (These steps, as well as others, may also be performed by a computer system dedicated or partially dedicated to determining shipment details.) After initiating shipping, the process may continue to step 411.

If, however, mobile device 113 does not request that the item be shipped (e.g., because it is not eligible for shipping or the consumer does not wish to ship the item), the process may continue to step 409. In step 409, mobile device 113 determines whether or not the item associated with tag 400 is “large.” Defining what is “large” may depend in part on the environment in which the process takes place. For example, if the mobile device and tags are located in a supermarket, items as large as a 25-pound turkey (roughly 16×13×8 inches) may qualify as “small” because a user of mobile device 113—e.g., a shopper—would typically have a metal shopping cart in which they can place goods. As another example, if the mobile device and tags are located in a small equipment warehouse where each user would have a small, hand-carried basket, items larger than a small box of nails (roughly 2×3×3.5) may qualify as “large” because users may not be able to carry many items at once. Mobile device 113 may, in some embodiments, define what constitutes a “large” item based on the preferences of the user. In other embodiments, merchant 105 and/or data stored on the tag (e.g., tag 116E), may define whether an item is “large.”

In any case, if the item associated with tag 400 is “large,” or if the user desires it, the item may be brought to the front of the store for the user of mobile device 113. For example, if mobile device 113 detects an item that is too large to place into a cart but small enough to place into a vehicle, mobile device 113 may prompt the user of mobile device 113 to confirm whether the item should be brought to the front of the store (e.g., near the POS device 109 and/or inside of zone 112) or to a pickup department in the store. If the consumer wishes the item brought to the front of the store, mobile device 113 may send a message indicating this. The process may then continue to step 408, where merchant device 105 may initiate the movement of the item. This includes, for example, notifying a store clerk (e.g., by sending a message to a wireless device held by the clerk) to obtain the item from a storeroom or the shelf and bring it to zone 112 or a package pickup department in the store. (These steps, as well as others, may also be performed by a computer system dedicated or partially dedicated to determining how to locate and move the item for the user.) The process may continue to step 411.

In step 411, mobile device 113 may add the item associated with tag 400 to the list on mobile device 113. Adding the item to the list may also comprise, for example, storing an indication of whether the item is being carried or moved by the consumer (e.g., located in a cart, a basket, or carried in the consumer's arms), whether the item is being moved (or will be moved) by a store clerk (e.g., to the front of the store or a package pickup department), or whether the item will be shipped to the consumer's home.

In step 413, mobile device 113 determines whether or not other tags were detected in the vicinity of mobile device 113. If so, the process may continue to step 403, where mobile device 113 may read data from the next detected tag.

In either case (i.e., whether or not more tags are present), after adding tag 400 to the list in step 411, the process may continue to FIG. 4B. (in some embodiments, the process may continue to FIG. 4B only for items that are determined to be small enough to be carried by a user or placed in a cart/basket.)

FIG. 4B is a flowchart of an exemplary process for determining whether mobile device 113 is still within range of a previously-detected item. As explained above, in some embodiments, the process in FIG. 48 may be performed only with respect to certain items, for example, items small enough to be carried by a user or placed in a cart/basket.

The process in FIG. 4B, in some embodiments, may begin after adding a tag to a list on mobile device 113. For example, each time a tag 400 is detected and added to the list, the process in FIG. 4B may begin. (The process in FIG. 4B could be, for example, initiated as a separate thread on the processor of mobile device 113, so as to ensure mobile device 113 continues detecting other tags or presenting other information to the person utilizing mobile device 113).

In step 421, mobile device 113 may initiate a timer for detected tag 400. The timer, in some embodiments, may be based on particular properties of tag 400 and mobile device 113. For example, in embodiments where tag 400 is a powered tag, such as one implemented in accordance with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standards, tag 400 may be programmed to advertise data on a periodic basis, such as every 500 milliseconds. Mobile device 113 may be configured to initiate the timer to be equal to or more than the expected timing for the advertisement. For example, if tag 400 advertises every 500 ms, mobile device may initiate a timer that fires at intervals such as 550 ms, 600 ms, or 1000 ms.

After the timer expires, mobile device 113 may determine whether tag 400 is in the vicinity of mobile device 113. For example, if the timer was set for 500 ms, mobile device 113 may determine whether it has received data in the form of Bluetooth communications during the preceding 500 ms. In step 425, mobile device 113 may determine whether tag