Interactive communications link e.g. for supplying sales offer data to supermarket trolley

摘要

The supermarket trolley is fitted with an electronic unit able to transmit and receive information from beacons arranged around the trolley area. The interaction may be seen by reference to a display on the handle of the trolley, and heard by a small loudspeaker built into the trolley.The beacons are connected together by a communications network on which one or more microcomputers are connected. The network may be used to send advertising messages to the trolleys, or may be used to monitor their position in order to assess the activity within a supermarket. Communication may be by radio waves or infrared signals.