Voip capabilities for media enhanced shopping systems

Abstract

A media enhanced shopping cart system comprises a shopping cart comprising a frame, a basket, a handle, a base tray, a plurality of wheels, a read component for performing a proximity scan of the shopping cart, a locationing component for determining a location of the shopping cart within a store based on the scan, and a display component for displaying at least one advertisement for a product based on the location of the shopping cart within the store, wherein the locationing component is further operable to determine a location of the product within the store relative to the shopping cart based on the scan, and wherein the display component is further operable to display an indication of the location of the advertised product relative to the location of the shopping cart.

1 . A media enhanced shopping cart, comprising:
 a shopping cart comprising a frame, a basket, a handle, and a plurality of wheels;   an embedded computing device comprising a central processing unit, a memory, and a network transceiver configured for wireless communication, the embedded computing device being attached to the shopping cart; and   a voice over Internet protocol module operable for wireless communication via the network transceiver.   
   
   
       2 . The media enhanced shopping cart according to  claim 1 , wherein the voice over Internet protocol module establishes communication between customer service and a user of the media enhanced shopping cart. 
   
   
       3 . The media enhanced shopping cart according to  claim 1 , wherein the voice over Internet protocol module establishes communication between a user of the media enhanced shopping cart and a telephone number outside the store in which the cart is used. 
   
   
       4 . The media enhanced shopping cart according to  claim 1 , wherein the voice over Internet protocol module establishes communication between a user of the media enhanced shopping cart and a second media enhanced shopping cart. 
   
   
       5 . The media enhanced shopping cart according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display component attached to the cart, wherein the display component displays a keypad for dialing a call connected via the voice over Internet protocol module. 
   
   
       6 . The media enhanced shopping cart according to  claim 5 , the display further comprising a shortcut dial to store customer service, a store manager, a particular second cart within the store, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       7 . A system comprising:
 a store computer system comprising at least a central processing unit, a data server storing content, and a store voice over Internet protocol module, wherein the store voice over Internet protocol module is operable to connect a voice over Internet protocol call from a cart to the destination of the call; and   a plurality of media enhanced shopping carts, each media enhanced shopping cart comprising:
 a shopping cart comprising a frame, a basket, a handle, a plurality of wheels, and a basket; 
 an embedded computing device comprising a central processing unit, a memory, and a network transceiver configured for wireless communication, the embedded computing device being attached to the shopping cart; and 
 a voice over Internet protocol module operable for wireless communication with the store voice over Internet protocol module via the network transceiver. 
   
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the voice over Internet protocol module establishes communication between customer service and a user of the media enhanced shopping cart. 
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the voice over Internet protocol module establishes communication between a user of the media enhanced shopping cart and a telephone number outside the store in which the cart is used. 
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the voice over Internet protocol module establishes communication between a user of the media enhanced shopping cart and a second media enhanced shopping cart. 
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising a display component attached to the cart, wherein the display component displays a keypad for dialing a call connected via the voice over Internet protocol module. 
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 11 , the display further comprising a shortcut dial to store customer service, a store manager, a particular second cart within the store, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       13 . A method, comprising:
 presenting a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) icon in a display in a media enhanced shopping cart; and   upon selection of the VoIP icon, placing the VoIP call via a wireless connection from the media enhanced shopping cart.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising presenting a shortcut dial icon to dial a VoIP call to store customer service, a store manager, a particular second cart within the store, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising selection of the VoIP icon by voice activation. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising selection of the VoIP icon by manual selection with a navigational device. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising presenting a keypad on the display for dialing a VoIP call. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein a telephone number is entered into the keypad by selection with a navigational device. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a telephone number is entered by voice activation.