APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BUILDING A SHOPPING LIST WITH A SENSOR UNIT
Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for building a shopping list on a user device using a sensor unit attached to a shopping container. In one embodiment, a shopping apparatus is provided. The shopping apparatus includes a portable item container and a sensor unit attached to the portable item container. The sensor unit includes a sensor configured to detect identifying information from items gathered by a user and placed in the portable item container and a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the identifying information of the items to a user device configured to use the identifying information to build a shopping list.
1 . A shopping apparatus comprising:
a portable item container; and
a sensor unit attached to the portable item container comprising:
a sensor configured to detect identifying information from items gathered by a user and placed in the portable item container; and
a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the identifying information of the items to a user device configured to use the identifying information to build a shopping list.
2 . The shopping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit further comprises:
a power source configured to supply power to at least one of the sensor and the transmitter.
3 . The shopping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the sensor comprises a voltage meter and a voltage interpreter, the voltage meter being configured to detect the identifying information of the items based on a conductivity of a conductive ink pattern applied to each of the items.
4 . The shopping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a bar code scanner, a Quick Response (QR) code reader, an optical scanner, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, a near field communication (NFC) reader, a low energy Bluetooth (BTLE) reader, and a camera.
5 . The shopping apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a container identifier recognizable by the user device, wherein the container identifier comprises information the user device needs to receive the identifying information of the items from the transmitter.
6 . The shopping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portable item container comprises a receptacle portion and a handle portion, and the sensor unit is attached to one of the handle portion and a rim of the receptacle portion.
7 . The shopping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shopping list is configured to be processed for payment for the items gathered at a checkout terminal.
8 . The shopping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shopping list is configured to be processed for payment for the items gathered through an online payment system.
9 . The shopping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the identifying information of an item is not stored on the sensor unit after transmission.
10 . The shopping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is integrated with a portion of the portable item container.
11 . The shopping apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is detachable from the portable item container.
12 . A method of creating a shopping list comprising:
detecting identifying information from items gathered by a shopper and placed in a portable item container with a sensor of a sensor unit attached to the portable item container; and
wirelessly transmitting, with a transmitter of the sensor unit, the identifying information of the items to a user device configured to use the identifying information to build the shopping list.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensor unit further comprises a power source supplying power to at least one of the sensor and the transmitter.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a voltage meter and a voltage interpreter, the voltage meter being configured to detect the identifying information of the items based on a conductivity of a conductive ink pattern applied to each of the items.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a bar code scanner, a Quick Response (QR) code reader, an optical scanner, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, a near field communication (NFC) reader, a low energy Bluetooth (BTLE) reader, and a camera.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the portable item container further comprises a container identifier recognizable by the user device, wherein the container identifier comprises information the user device needs to receive the identifying information of the items from the transmitter.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the portable item container comprises a receptacle portion and a handle portion, and the sensor unit is attached to one of the handle portion and a rim of the receptacle portion.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the shopping list is configured to be processed for payment for the items gathered at a checkout terminal.
19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: authenticating with the user device prior to transmitting the identifying information of the item.
20 . A sensor device comprising:
a sensor configured to detect identifying information from items gathered by a user and placed in a portable item container;
a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the identifying information of the items to a user device configured to use the identifying information to build a shopping list; and
an attachment means for attaching the sensor device to the portable item container.