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Title:
A COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED METHOD OF PURCHASING A PRODUCT IN A SHOP OR SHOP-LIKE ENVIRONMENT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2020/231266
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention relates, in general to a computer implemented method of performing a purchase of at least one product in a shop or shop-like environment offering a plurality of different products, wherein, in a first aspect of the invention, by a computer implemented method of performing a purchase of at least one product in a shop or shop-like environment offering a plurality of different products, the method comprising the steps of: the method comprising the steps of: broadcasting, by electronic shelf label, a message over a wireless personal area network, the message comprising a unique product identifier corresponding to the at least one product being supported by a shelf in the shop; receiving, by a mobile User Equipment, UE, the message over the wireless personal area network; determining, by the mobile UE, at least a first distance and subsequently a second distance between the mobile UE and the electronic shelf label, wherein the distance is determined based on signal properties of the message; determining, by the mobile UE, the second distance being shorter than the first distance and the second distance being below a predetermined distance threshold value; adding, by the mobile UE, the product corresponding to the unique product identifier to a listing of a generated purchase order; - fulfilling, by the mobile UE, the purchase order for completing the purchase of the order comprising the listing of products.

Inventors:
VAN HERP PETRUS JOANNES WILHELMUS (NL)
OONK JOHANNES HERMANUS PETRUS MARIA (NL)
Application Number:
PCT/NL2020/050315
Publication Date:
November 19, 2020
Filing Date:
May 18, 2020
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
MOBUYOU B V (NL)
International Classes:
G06Q20/32; G06Q10/08; G06Q20/20; G07G1/00; G09F3/20
Domestic Patent References:
WO2016205676A12016-12-22
Foreign References:
EP3076353A12016-10-05
US20150081474A12015-03-19
US20140135042A12014-05-15
US20180059208A12018-03-01
US20170181115A12017-06-22
US20080245863A12008-10-09
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ALGEMEEN OCTROOI- EN MERKENBUREAU B.V. (NL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. A computer implemented method of performing a purchase of at least one product in a shop or shop-like environment offering a plurality of different products, said method comprising the steps of:

broadcasting, by electronic shelf label, a message over a wireless personal area network, said message comprising a unique product identifier corresponding to said at least one product being supported by a shelf in said shop;

receiving, by a mobile User Equipment, UE, said message over said wireless personal area network;

determining, by said mobile UE, at least a first distance and subsequently a second distance between said mobile UE and said electronic shelf label, wherein said distance is determined based on signal properties of said message;

determining, by said mobile UE, said second distance being shorter than said first distance and said second distance being below a predetermined distance threshold value;

adding, by said mobile UE, said product corresponding to said unique product identifier to a listing of a generated purchase order;

fulfilling, by said mobile UE, said purchase order for completing said purchase of said order comprising said listing of products.

2. The computer implemented method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said electronic shelf label comprises a at least one Bluetooth LE transmitter for broadcasting said unique product identifier over said wireless personal area network, and wherein said wireless personal area network being a Bluetooth LE network.

3. The computer implemented method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said distance is determined based on any one or more of an absolute signal strength, RSSI, or other indication from which the strongest signal may be derived.

4. The computer implemented method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said step of fulfilling said purchase order further comprises; broadcasting, by a point of sale terminal, a unique terminal identifier; receiving, by said mobile UE, said broadcasted unique terminal identifier of said point of sale terminal;

fulfilling, by said mobile UE, said generated purchase order for completing said purchase of said order comprising said product.

5. The computer implemented method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said step of fulfilling said purchase order further comprises;

initiating, by said mobile UE, a timer, wherein said timer is running upon said mobile UE not receiving product identifiers of any of said plurality of different products and resetting said timer upon receiving product identifiers of any of said plurality of different products;

fulfilling, by said mobile UE, said generated purchase order for completing said purchase of said order comprising said product upon said timer to exceed a predetermined time-out value.

6. The computer implemented method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said step of fulfilling said purchase order further comprises:

initiating, by said mobile UE, a connection with a transaction back end server for effectuating a financial payment transaction between a first and a second party, and wherein said mobile UE is registered to said first party, and said point of sale terminal is registered to said second party.

7. The computer implemented method according to any of the previous claims, further comprising,

determining, by said mobile UE, a received unique product identifier is comprised in said listing;

determining, by said mobile UE, a third distance and subsequently a fourth distance between said mobile UE and said electronic shelf label, wherein said distance is determined based on signal properties of said received unique product identifier;

determining, by said mobile UE, said fourth distance being shorter than said third distance and said fourth distance being below said predetermined distance threshold value; removing, by said mobile UE, said product corresponding to said unique product identifier from said listing of said generated purchase order.

8. The computer implemented method of any of the previous claims, further comprising,

determining, by said mobile UE, a fifth distance between said mobile UE and said electronic shelf label, and wherein said distance is determined based on signal properties of said received unique product identifier;

determining, by said mobile UE, said fifth distance is longer than said first distance and shorter than said second distance, and said fifth distance being below a predetermined distance threshold value;

providing, by said mobile UE, through a graphical user interface, product information of said product corresponding to said unique product identifier.

9. The computer implemented method of any of the previous claims, further comprising,

determining, by said mobile UE, a fifth distance between said mobile UE and said electronic shelf label, and wherein said distance is determined based on signal properties of said received unique product identifier;

determining, by said mobile UE, said fifth distance is longer than said first distance and shorter than said second distance, and said fifth distance being below a predetermined distance threshold value;

providing, by an electronic shelf label having a display and located on or in proximity of said shelf, product information of said product corresponding to said unique product identifier.

10. The computer implemented method of any of the previous claims, further comprising:

determining, by said mobile UE, a direction of said mobile UE, wherein said direction is determined by one or more of an accelero meter, a gyroscope, a magneto meter, a positioning sensor;

determining, by said mobile UE, a travel distance and direction from said determined distance and said direction, and determining said mobile UE to travel towards said electronic shelf label, adding, by said mobile UE, said product corresponding to said unique product identifier to said listing of said generated purchase order upon said mobile UE to travel towards said electronic shelf label, and said second distance being below a predetermined distance threshold value.

1 1. A purchase system for performing a purchase of at least one product in a shop or shop-like environment offering a plurality of different products, said system comprising:

a plurality of electronic shelf labels, arranged for broadcasting a message over a wireless personal area network, said message comprising a unique product identifier corresponding to said at least one product being supported by a shelf in said shop;

a purchase back-office system, arranged for wireless communication with said plurality of electronic shelf labels, and preferably with a mobile User Equipment, UE, used for purchasing said at least one product;

a financial transaction back-office system, arranged for wireless communication with a mobile User Equipment, UE, for fulfilling, a purchase order for completing said purchase of said order comprising said listing of products; and wherein one or more of said purchase back-office system and said mobile UE are arranged to carry out the steps of the method of any of the claims 1 -10.

12. A purchase back-office system, configured for a purchase system according to claim 1 1.

13. A financial transaction back-office system, configured for a purchase system according to claim 1 1.

14. A electronic shelf labels configured for a purchase system according to claim 11.

15. A mobile user equipment, comprising a memory, said memory comprising a computer program having instructions which, when said program is executed by a computer, cause said computer to carry out the steps of the method of any of the claims 1 -10. 16. A computer program comprising instructions which, when said program is executed by a computer, cause said computer to carry out the steps of the method of any of the claims 1 -10.

Description:
Title: A computer implemented method of purchasing a product in a shop or shop-like environment.

Description

The present invention relates, in general to a computer implemented method of performing a purchase of at least one product in a shop or shop-like environment offering a plurality of different products.

The present invention further relates to a purchase system for performing such a purchase as well as a purchase back-office system, a financial transaction back-office system, a mobile user equipment, an electronic shelf label as well as a computer program for performing such a purchase.

Shops or shop like environments are used by retailers to display and offer products to be purchased by consumers in the shop. The products are typically displayed on product shelves. The product shelf, or shelf for short, may be used for displaying, storing and offering the products for sale and is typically comprised of a flat horizontal plane which is used in a business or in a store/shop or store like environment. With a shelf the products are raised from the ground and usually anchored or supported on the shorter lengths of the shelf by brackets, columns or pillars.

To indicate product information to the consumer, the shelves are provided with shelf labels which allow the retailers to display for example the price, and a name or type of the product. Conventional shelf labels have to be replaced in case any of these information changes. Dynamic pricing is therefor cumbersome. Electronic shelf labels solve at least some of these drawbacks since they allow the retailer to provide dynamic pricing and to change all or part of the information displayed on the label without replacing. Updated pricing is very convenient with a system of electronic shelf labels. Typically, such an electronic shelf label system comprises a control or back-end server which controls the content or information on the label. All updating of the content or information may be employed though a user interface offered by the server.

Conventionally, the electronic shelf labels comprised Liquid Crystal Display, LCDs. These however have some drawbacks, for example in diversity of content. Most LCDs used only allow limited segments which for example are only compatible with ASCI based text content. Most LCDs are not able to display graphical content. The electronic shelf labels further emerged in a further generation which is based on electronic paper, or e-paper, and infrared communication. E-paper is more energy efficient and flexible in displaying content. Infrared communication allows communication between the labels and a device such as a labelling apparatus which for example may be used by a shop employee to update the prices on the labels.

Electronic shelf labels are particularly suitable for a self-service checkout or in a semi-attended customer-activated shopping environment to provide the merchant and the customer a process of self purchasing products from the retailer. They are a popular alternative for the traditional point-of-sale cashier-staffed checkout. The popularity of these self-services has rapidly emerged the last few years since the total cost of ownership of such services is typically lower than the costs for the additional personal, and traditional cashier checkouts etc. Moreover user experience is increased and time needed for the customer to actually buy products is decreased. An aspect of shopping in these self service shops which still consumes a lot of time is the actual checkout at the self-service checkout terminal. Payment at these terminals not only takes time, it also lowers user experience. Moreover, customers have to adapt this new way of shopping which is not quite similar to the conventional shopping experience of placing products in a shopping cart or basket.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved method of performing a purchase of at least one product in a shop or shop-like environment offering a plurality of different products.

The present invention has for its further object to provide an improved method of performing a purchase of at least one product in a shop or shop-like environment offering a plurality of different products wherein the product information is provided through electronic shelf labels and wherein the perception of the shopping experience is more in line with conventional shopping experience without the drawbacks of such a shopping experience.

The object is achieved, in a first aspect of the invention, by a computer implemented method of performing a purchase of at least one product in a shop or shop-like environment offering a plurality of different products, the method comprising the steps of: the method comprising the steps of:

broadcasting, by electronic shelf label, a message over a wireless personal area network, the message comprising a unique product identifier corresponding to the at least one product being supported by a shelf in the shop;

receiving, by a mobile User Equipment, UE, the message over the wireless personal area network;

determining, by the mobile UE, at least a first distance and subsequently a second distance between the mobile UE and the electronic shelf label, wherein the distance is determined based on signal properties of the message;

determining, by the mobile UE, the second distance being shorter than the first distance and the second distance being below a predetermined distance threshold value;

adding, by the mobile UE, the product corresponding to the unique product identifier to a listing of a generated purchase order; - fulfilling, by the mobile UE, the purchase order for completing the purchase of the order comprising the listing of products.

The computer implemented method according to the invention is provided for performing a purchase of a product but typically for purchasing multiple products. The products are displayed in a shop or in a shop like environment where multiple types of products are place for display and offering by a customer in the shop. The products are displayed and offered on a product shelf. The shelf may thus comprise multiple products of a single type, for example bottles of wine, or preferably of different types, such a several brands of wine bottles, soft drinks, beers, etc. To inform the customer of the price of the product, each product is typically provided with an electronic shelf label. The electronic shelf label corresponds to a certain product type, i.e. not to each individual product.

The electronic shelf label may display price of the product but is not limited to the price. Other information may be displayed as well, e.g. a name, brand, type, selling unit, etc. Since the shelf label is of an electronic type, the content on the display may be changed dynamically, e.g. through a back-end server system which provides a user such a the merchant or the retailer to change prices or other content, or though a hand-held labelling device which may update the label content through a wireless machine-to-machine, M2M, communication. The electronic shelf labels according to the invention are provided arranged to broadcast messages over a wireless personal area network. A wireless personal area network is a network with a certain spatial scope and defined by the IEEE 802.15 standard. According to that standard, there are several types of such Wireless Personal Area Networks, WPAN. Examples thereof are short-distance wireless networks such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE and ZigBee, of which Bluetooth LE is the preferred network for communication since it has a highly suitable reach of between a few centimetres to a few meters. Moreover, Bluetooth LE is low power consuming which may enable off grid electronic shelf labels which are long lasting. Bluetooth LE also has the advantage of having a high level of compatibility with mobile User Equipment, UE, such as smartphones, tables, smart watches or other smart wearables. Typically, these devices are equipped with a communication module that supports Bluetooth LE. Most, if not any, customers nowadays takes their smartphone and/or other wearable with them when shopping. As such, a device which is arranged to support the shopping process is present. This removes the necessity of dedicated hand-held scanners which are typically used in self-service shops.

The mobile UE not only replaces the hand-held scanner, it also allows integration of the transaction of the products. Contrary to payment of a product by use of a mobile phone, which payment is known to be executed through establishment of a NFC commutation, the mobile UE in the present invention initially only makes a reservation of the product. The actual transaction only takes place after a take-out action has been initiated which is a separate individual process to the reservation process.

Introducing of a reservation may separate the purchase into an order reservation and finalization with an actual transaction. A such, products may be removed from the order before the actual transaction takes place. This has the advantage that customers adoption is simplified which makes adoption to the new way of purchasing more easy.

The electronic shelf labels broadcast a message. This message is broadcasted at regular intervals, by which the label may operate as a beacon such as a Bluetooth LE beacon. In any example described the label may have an integrated communication module such that it is arranged to operate as a Bluetooth LE beacon. The communication module may however also be provided as a separate communication module or beacon tag which is located near the electronic shelf label. In yet another example, the label may have several beacons, i.e. Bluetooth LE communication tags which are located at a certain distance from the label and from each other. In such a way they beacons may be used for trilateration between at least three beacons. The signal strength, preferably the RSSI value of each beacon is compared and, when the beacons are placed correctly, the calculation may pinpoint the exact location within the shop. As such, the mobile UE, or any other component of the system may determine proximity of the mobile UE and thus the customer, to a certain product.

In a general embodiment of the invention, there are at least plural and sufficient beacons which broadcast a message over the WPAN network such that the mobile UE position in the shop may be determined which such accuracy that a distinction may be made between the products. What that means is, that either plural beacons are distributed over the shop to make a clear distinction of determining if a customers mobile UE is near product A or near product B, for example based on trilateration, or by having at least one beacon which corresponds to an electronic shelf label and thus to a particular type of product amongst the plurality of different products in the shop. In case a single beacon is provided per product type, correct position may be determined by from the signal properties of the broadcasted message. The message comprises a unique identifier such that the mobile UE may distinguish between beacons. The position is preferably determined by any one or more of an angle of arrival, time of arrival, signal power, and most preferably by a Received Signal Strength Indication, RSSI. These variants of position determining systems may apply both for the case in which each product and electronic shelf label has a corresponding beacon, and in the case in which plural beacons are distributed over the shop or part of the shop.

Determining proximity of the customer, and in particular the mobile UE near a certain product is only part of the actual process of adding the product to the order and thus making a product reservation. The mobile UE also determines that the UE is moved towards (the direction) of the product. As such, a first indication is obtained that the customer is interested in that particular product. Once the mobile UE determines that the customer is interested, by a first determination of a distance between the mobile UE and the electronic product label with (integrated) tag, and at a further moment in time a second determination of the distance, wherein the distance is determined through the signal properties of the message as indicated above, i.e. RSSI, the mobile UE may be determine to be moved towards the product. Once the distance, i.e. the second measured distance, is below a predetermined distance threshold value, it may be determined that the customer is willing to add the product to the order and thereby making the product reservation. In particular this distance threshold value may be set at approximately 25 cm from the label/tag, more preferably 20 cm, more preferably 15 cm, even more preferably 10 cm, yet even more preferably 5 cm and most preferably approximately 1 to 0 cm. This may also be defined as tapping the label. Once the threshold value is reached, the mobile UE may add the product, which is identified through the unique product identifier comprised in the message that is broadcasted by the beacon, to a listing of a generated purchase order. The purchase order may also comprise identification information of the customer, e.g. a unique customer identification key and additional information such as the information relating to the retailer or the merchant like merchant saving programs, etc.

Once the customer has taken a single or multiple products from the shelf and moved the mobile UE towards the corresponding labels to add these products to the listing, the customer may initiate the check-out of these products. With the check-out the purchase order is completed through purchase of the order which comprises the listing of products. With the checkout ownership of the products on the listing is assigned from the merchant or retailer to the customer. This may also implicate that an actual financial transaction is executed by which a financial transaction from an account of the customer is transferred to the retailer or merchant.

In an example, the electronic shelf label comprises at least one Bluetooth LE transmitter for broadcasting the unique product identifier over the wireless personal area network, and wherein the wireless personal area network being a Bluetooth LE network.

As indicated, the shelf label may a have separate corresponding label such as a Bluetooth LE transmitter or may have an such a transmitter, i.e. beacon, integrated into the label itself.

In an example, the distance is determined based on any one or more of an absolute signal strength, RSSI, or other indication from which the strongest signal may be derived.

The skilled person will appreciate that there are several ways of determining the distance between the mobile UE and the products, i.e. the label, such as time or arrival, angle of arrival, Received Signal Strength Indication, RSSI, etc. In an example, the step of fulfilling the purchase order further comprises;

broadcasting, by a point of sale terminal, a unique terminal identifier; receiving, by the mobile UE, the broadcasted unique terminal identifier of the point of sale terminal;

fulfilling, by the mobile UE, the generated purchase order for completing the purchase of the order comprising the product.

In an example, the step of fulfilling the purchase order further comprises;

initiating, by the mobile UE, a timer, wherein the timer is running upon the mobile UE not receiving product identifiers of any of the plurality of different products and resetting the timer upon receiving product identifiers of any of the plurality of different products;

fulfilling, by the mobile UE, the generated purchase order for completing the purchase of the order comprising the product upon the timer to exceed a predetermined time-out value.

The fulfilling of the purchase order may be implemented by at least two different alternative examples. In the first example the shop may have a dedicated exit which is provided by one or preferably plural point of sale terminals which broadcast a unique identifier. These point of sale terminals do not necessary require the mobile UE to be in touch or close proximity of the terminal, although this may also be implemented through a variant of actually tapping or placing the mobile UE near a terminal. The terminals may broadcast a dedicated message which comprises a unique terminal identifier. Once the mobile UE receives that message, and in particular with a certain signal strength, e.g. RSSI above a particular threshold, it may determine that a the customer have moved from the products towards the checkout terminal or point of sale terminal for fulfilling the order and leaving the shop. As such, the fulfilling of the payment is completing by the completing the purchase of the order listing comprising the product or products. In particular, the point of sale terminal communicates over a wireless communication interface, which preferably, but not necessary, is a wireless personal area network such as Bluetooth LE. The interface may however also be a wireless local area network, near field communication interface or any other suitable network interface. As an alternative to the above described example, the fulfilling of the generated purchase order for completing the purchase of the order listing comprising the product may also be initiated by expiration of a timer. The timer may run during a time period in which no message of any beacon is received. Upon a timer expiration, it may be determined, either in the mobile UE or by a back-end server, that the customer has left the shop and as such the products on the list are purchased.

In an example, the step of fulfilling the purchase order further comprises:

initiating, by the mobile UE, a connection with a transaction back-end server for effectuating a financial payment transaction between a first and a second party, and wherein the mobile UE is registered to the first party, and the point of sale terminal is registered to the second party.

As indicated, the fulfilling of the generated purchase order may be completed with or without actual financial transaction. The financial transaction may be effectuated by a transaction back-end server which executes the transaction between the first party, i.e. the customer, and the second party, i.e. the merchant or retailer.

In an example, the actual fulfilment of the payment may comprises additional steps by the user of the mobile UE. This increases security and lowers unintended payments. These additional steps may comprise any one or more of pressing a certain logo on the screen, such as a payment symbol, pressing or typing a requested code or activation by a fingerprint or face recognition, and performing a certain graphical user interaction, e.g. moving a graphical object over the screen of the mobile UE over a predetermined path.

Each transaction may comprise, in an example, a unique, one time use, transaction security code. This has the advantage that codes cannot be re-used which significantly increases the level of security of the transaction. Each transaction may in a further example also be a transaction which is an incremental transaction based on the previous transaction. This way unintended or undesired discrepancies in the transaction chain are prevented.

In an example, the fulfilment of the payment may also exclusively be accepted by a predefined list of participants. As such, only trusted merchants and/or trusted customers may complete the transaction. Undesired or unlisted merchants may not misuse the system and undesired or unlisted customers may be restricted or banned from use.

The actual fulfilment of the payment may be restricted to mobile UEs with a predetermined security level. For example, mobile UEs without fingerprint scanner or face recognition may be excluded from use.

In an example, the fulfilment of the payment may comprise additional steps of displaying, by the mobile UE or initiated by an other component of the system, the content of the listing, i.e. the products on the payment order, on a display in the shop. This could for example be tablet near the exit of the shop. This allows the retailer to perform a check on the customer to see if all physical products in the shopping cart or basket are also mentioned on the listing of the purchase order. If not, this information may be linked to the customer, e.g. through its personal profile which may indicate a lower level of trustworthiness. If this level may drop below a certain threshold, the customer may automatically be signalled for additional checking by the retailer and if yet a further threshold is exceeded, the customer may be placed on a blacklist.

In an example, the shop may have exit gates to limit the customers from leaving the shop. The gates may open upon providing a correct access code or exit code. This code may for example be shown on the display of the mobile UE only upon a successful fulfilment of the payment order.

In an example, the method further comprises the steps of:

determining, by the mobile UE, a received unique product identifier is comprised in the listing;

determining, by the mobile UE, a third distance and subsequently a fourth distance between the mobile UE and the electronic shelf label, wherein the distance is determined based on signal properties of the received unique product identifier;

determining, by the mobile UE, the fourth distance being shorter than the third distance and the fourth distance being below the predetermined distance threshold value;

removing, by the mobile UE, the product corresponding to the unique product identifier from the listing of the generated purchase order.

Placing products on order, i.e. adding products to the listing is done by moving the mobile UE towards the label. Once the correct movement is detected and a certain distance threshold is exceeded, i.e. the mobile is within sufficient reach of the label, the product is added to the listing. If the customer decides otherwise and wishes to place the product back on the shelf, the product should be removed from the listing. This could be done through a user interface on the mobile device, or could also be done by a reverse movement of the payment. That means, that the mobile UE is again moved towards the label in a way similar to that of the adding of the product. By repeating this procedure, the actual placing back of the product back on the shelf is simulated. If it is determined, e.g. by the mobile UE or by a back-end server, that the mobile UE is within reach and thus exceeds a distance threshold value, then the product is removed from the listing.

In an example, the method further comprises the steps of:

determining, by the mobile UE, a fifth distance between the mobile UE and the electronic shelf label, and wherein the distance is determined based on signal properties of the received unique product identifier;

determining, by the mobile UE, the fifth distance is longer than the first distance and shorter than the second distance, and the fifth distance being below a predetermined distance threshold value;

providing, by the mobile UE, through a graphical user interface, product information of the product corresponding to the unique product identifier.

Similar to the process of adding and removing products from the listing, in an example, there is provided an intermediate distance threshold value. Upon determining that the mobile UE is within or near distance and exceeds that threshold, but is not within the final nearest distance for adding and removing, the customer may be provided with additional information regarding the product. This could for example be information that relates to the ingredients of the product, nutrition levels, diet information, allergy information, but also name, type, origin, price, etc. The information may be displayed on the display of the mobile UE, and/or on the display of the electronic shelf label, but also on a local display which is in close proximity to the shelf and may act as a general information display for several products.

In an example, the listing in the mobile UE, which may also be stored on a remote backend server, may be coupled to a personal profile of the customer. This personal profile may contain information provided by the customer itself, e.g. diet conditions, preferred brands, allergy conditions, etc. The profile may also contain information provided by the merchant or the retailer, e.g. special prices or combination deals with other products. It may also indicate certain savings or bonus schemes that may be active during a certain period of time.

In an example, the method further comprises the steps of:

determining, by the mobile UE, a fifth distance between the mobile UE and the electronic shelf label, and wherein the distance is determined based on signal properties of the received unique product identifier;

determining, by the mobile UE, the fifth distance is longer than the first distance and shorter than the second distance, and the fifth distance being below a predetermined distance threshold value;

providing, by an electronic shelf label having a display and located on or in proximity of the shelf, product information of the product corresponding to the unique product identifier.

In an example, the method further comprises the steps of:

determining, by the mobile UE, a direction of the mobile UE, wherein the direction is determined by one or more of an accelero meter, a gyroscope, a magneto meter, a positioning sensor;

determining, by the mobile UE, a travel distance and direction from the determined distance and the direction, and determining the mobile UE to travel towards the electronic shelf label,

adding, by the mobile UE, the product corresponding to the unique product identifier to the listing of the generated purchase order upon the mobile UE to travel towards the electronic shelf label, and the second distance being below a predetermined distance threshold value.

For further accuracy in determining the position and movement of the mobile UE towards the label, i.e. performing the tap-to-pay action, addition sensor data may be used. This sensor data is preferably provided by the mobile UE on-board sensors such as an accelero meter, a gyroscope, a magneto meter, a positioning sensor. For example the accelero meter, preferably in combination with the gyroscope and the signal strength of the beacons may determine location and distance of the mobile UE with respect to the label in a very accurate manner. Moreover, not only the absolute location or distance may be determined this way, but also a relative trajectory or movement of the mobile UE. The adding of the product to the listing may for example only be effectuated if the movement of the mobile UE is in a predominantly straight trajectory towards the label. In a second aspect, there is provided a purchase system for performing a purchase of at least one product in a shop or shop-like environment offering a plurality of different products, the system comprising:

a plurality of electronic shelf labels, arranged for broadcasting a message over a wireless personal area network, the message comprising a unique product identifier corresponding to the at least one product being supported by a shelf in the shop;

a purchase back-office system, arranged for wireless communication with the plurality of electronic shelf labels, and a mobile User Equipment, UE, used for purchasing the at least one product;

a financial transaction back-office system, arranged for wireless communication with a mobile User Equipment, UE, for fulfilling, a purchase order for completing the purchase of the order comprising the listing of products; and wherein one or more of the purchase back-office system and the mobile UE are arranged to carry out the steps of the method of any of the above mentioned first aspect.

In a third aspect, there is provided a purchase back-office system, configured for a purchase system according to the second aspect.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a financial transaction back-office system, configured for a purchase system according to the second aspect.

In an fifth aspect, there is provided a electronic shelf labels configured for a purchase system according to the second aspect.

In a sixth aspect, there is provided mobile user equipment, comprising a memory, the memory comprising a computer program having instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method of the first aspect or any of the corresponding examples.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method of the first aspect or any of the corresponding examples.

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the disclosure will be best understood from the following description referring to the attached drawings which demonstrate non-limitative exemplary embodiments. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote identical parts or parts performing an identical or comparable function or operation. Herein shows: figure 1 a flowchart of the method steps according to the first aspect of the invention;

figure 2 a schematic view on the different components of the purchase system according to further aspects of the invention.

Figure 1 shows the minimal individual steps of the computer implemented method of performing a purchase of at least one product in a shop or shop-like environment offering a plurality of different products. The steps 100 shown in figure 1 are not limiting, meaning that they may comprise additional steps as indicated by the examples described above. The method at least comprises a first step of broadcasting 101 a message. The message is broadcasted by an electronic shelf label over a Bluetooth LE interface. The message contains information of at least a unique identifier such that the mobile User Equipment, UE, may distinguish each label and therefor a corresponding product which belongs to the electronic shelf label.

The mobile UE, in the next step 102, may receive 102 the broadcasted message over the Bluetooth LE interface;

Next, the mobile UE determines the distance 103 of between the mobile UE and the label. In particular, this is done trough at least a first distance measurement and subsequently a second distance measurement. The distance measurement is determined based on the signal properties of the message and preferably by the RSSI thereof.

Next, it is determined if mobile is moving towards the label by comparing the first and second measurement such that a distance difference is determined 104. If the mobile UE is more closely to the label and the last measurement is below a distance threshold, then the mobile UE is considered sufficiently close to the label. Sufficiently close in this case is to be understood as tapping of the mobile UE to the label. Tapping not necessarily meaning that the mobile touches the label but is at least very close.

When close enough, the mobile UE may place or add 105 the product corresponding to the label on a listing of a generated purchase order which may act as a reservation list.

Once all desired products have been taken by the customer and all corresponding labels have been tapped such that each product is added to the listing, the actual purchase may take place by fulfilling the order 106 in the final step.

Accordingly, the ownership has been assigned to the customer and preferably the actual financial transaction is also directly completed or at least a corresponding financial transaction order has been entered into a financial transaction backend server.

Figure 2 demonstrates all main elements of the purchase system 200.

The system 200 comprises a plurality of electronic shelf labels 201. These shop labels are arranged for broadcasting a message over a wireless personal area network such as a Bluetooth LE interface. The message of a particular electronic shelf label comprises a unique product identifier corresponding to at least one product being supported by a shelf in the shop. The label 201 may communicate through a wireless communication interface with a purchase back-office system 202. The purchase back-office system is arranged for wireless communication with the plurality of electronic shelf labels 201 , and preferably also with a mobile User Equipment, UE, used for purchasing said at least one product. Alternatively, the labels 201 may be connected via wiring to the back-office system 201. The purchase back-office system 202 may also be arranged to communicate with a handheld scanning device for updating the content of the labels 201. The mobile UE 203, such as a smartphone, tablet, or wearable communicates with at least the labels 201 over the Bluetooth LE interface. The system 200 also comprises a financial transaction back-office system 204, arranged for communication over the Bluetooth LE interface with the mobile User Equipment, for fulfilling a purchase order for completing said purchase of the order comprising the listing of products corresponding to the labels. The actual fulfilling of the purchase may be initiated by a point of sale terminal 205 which detects that the mobile UE has the desire to finish the purchase and initiate the actual transaction. If determined, the point of sale terminal 205 may communicate this to the financial transaction back-office system 204, or this may be done through the mobile UE 203.

Expressions such as“comprise”,“include”, “incorporate”,“contain”, “is” and“have” are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner when interpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construed to allow for other items or components which are not explicitly defined also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed in be a reference to the plural and vice versa.

Furthermore, the invention may also be embodied with less components than provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one component carries out multiple functions. Just as well may the invention be embodied using more elements than depicted in the Figures, wherein functions carried out by one component in the embodiment provided are distributed over multiple components.

A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that method steps of may primarily be performed in the mobile User Equipment, or in a control server which is located in or near the shop, or in a back-end server at a remote location, for example a back-end physical or virtual server in a dedicated, high security level data centre. Moreover, the person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that some of these steps may be performed by all element in parallel, or preferably, wherein each of the elements performs one or more of the method steps.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope thereof.