PRODUCT DISPLAY AND PROCESS FOR SUGGESTING RELATED PRODUCTS
A product display unit may include a display device and a sensor to identify a product selected for purchase by a customer. Information relating to at least one related product suggested for use with the selected product may be presented on the display device. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.
1 . A product display unit, comprising
a means to identify a selected product; and
a display device to present information to suggest at least one related product.
2 . The product display unit of claim 1 , wherein:
the means to identify the selected product is an RFID sensor to sense an RFID tag attached to the selected product.
3 . The product display unit of claim 1 , wherein:
the means to identify the selected product is an optical sensor to read optical indicia attached to the selected product.
4 . The product display unit of claim 1 , wherein:
the means to identify the selected product is a manual input device.
5 . The product display unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a computer to select the at least one related product.
6 . The product display unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a means for holding a plurality of the at least one related product.
7 . The product display unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a printer to print information relating to the at least one related product.
8 . The product display unit of claim 1 , wherein:
the information presented on the display device comprises at least one of:
a part number of the at least one related product;
a name of the at least one related product;
a description of the at least one related product;
a picture of the at least one related product; or
a location of the at least one related product.
9 . The product display unit of claim 8 , wherein:
the information presented on the display device further comprises a URL providing access to further information pertaining to the at least one related product.
10 . The product display unit of claim 9 , wherein:
the further information pertaining to the at least one related product comprises at least one of:
an installation diagram;
installation instructions; or
operating instructions.
11 . The product display unit of claim 1 , wherein:
the selected product is an item of electronic equipment product;
the at least one related product is selected from:
a cable;
a recordable medium;
a pre-recorded medium;
a software product; or
a consumable product.
12 . The product display unit of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one related product is selected from:
a tangible product;
an intangible product; or
a service.
13 . A method of suggesting a related product, comprising:
identifying a selected product; and
presenting information describing at least one product related to the selected product.
14 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 13 , wherein:
identifying the selected product further comprises sensing an RFID tag attached to the selected product.
15 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 13 , wherein:
identifying the selected product further comprises reading optical markings attached to the selected product.
16 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 13 , wherein:
identifying the selected product further comprises at least one of:
sensing a product tag;
selecting a product from a list of products presented on a display; or
manually entering identifying information.
17 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 13 , further comprising:
identifying the at least one product related to the selected product.
18 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 13 , further comprising:
holding a plurality of the at least one related product.
19 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 13 , further comprising:
printing the information pertaining to the at least one related product.
20 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 13 , wherein:
presenting the information describing the at least one related product comprises presenting at least one of:
a part number of the at least one related product;
a name of the at least one related product;
a description of the at least one related product;
a picture of the at least one related product; or
a location of the at least one related product.
21 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 20 , wherein:
presenting the information describing the at least one related product further comprises presenting a URL providing access to further information pertaining to the at least one related product.
22 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 21 , wherein:
the further information pertaining to the at least one related product includes at least one of:
an installation diagram;
installation instructions; or
operating instructions.
23 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 13 , wherein:
the selected product is an item of electronic equipment product; and
the at least one related product is selected from:
a cable;
a recordable medium;
a pre-recorded medium;
a software product; or
a consumable product.
24 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 13 , wherein:
the at least one related product is selected from:
a tangible product;
an intangible product; and
a service.
25 . The method of suggesting a related product of claim 13 , further comprising:
identifying at least one second selected product;
determining if the selected product and the at least one second selected product are mutually compatible; and
suggesting at least one alternative product if the selected product and the at least one second selected product are not mutually compatible.