Handheld device and kiosk system for automated compiling and generating item list information

Abstract

A portable handheld electronic device is in communication with a stationary kiosk device. The portable device provides automated compiling and categorizing of items and generating of categorized item lists in accordance with user-defined preferences including user-defined categories, and includes a memory for storing the assortment data, and categorizing means adapted for assigning respective predetermined and/or user-selected categories to the assortment data. Generating means compile and synchronize selected categories, and generate the item list relative to one or more user-selected categories that is further displayed and printed at request of the user. A signal receiving circuit of the kiosk device communicates with a signal generating circuit of the portable device and generates received categorized item list data in accordance with a received item list signal, and a human user interface generates a human readable display representative of the categorized item list information in accordance with the received categorized item list data.

1 . A system for automated compiling and generating categorized item list information, the system comprising:
 a portable device including:
 a data input operable to receive, from an associated user during each of a plurality of transactions, first input specifying a corresponding plurality of user-selected items; 
 a data storage operable for storing received assortment data corresponding to each of the plurality of user-selected items, the data storage further being operable for storing category data representative of item categories assigned to each of the plurality of items included in the assortment data; 
 a user input operable to receive, from the associated user, a list generation instruction; 
 a list generator, responsive to the list generation instruction, operable to compile the plurality of user selected items specified during each of the plurality of transactions and to generate categorized item list information representative of each of the user selected items categorized in accordance with the assigned category such that at least two of the user-selected items are listed contiguously and associatively with a corresponding category; and, 
 a signal generating circuit operable to selectively generate an item list signal representative of the categorized item list information; and, 
   a kiosk device including:
 a signal receiving circuit in operative communication with the signal generating circuit of the portable device and operable to selectively receive the item list signal; 
 a convertor circuit operable to generate received categorized item list data in accordance with the received item list signal; and 
 a human user interface operable to generate a human readable display representative of the categorized item list information in accordance with the received categorized item list data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system for automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the human user interface of the kiosk device includes an output device for recording the human readable display on a tangible medium.   
     
     
         3 . The system for automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the data storage of the portable device is operable for storing promotion data representative of promotion categories assigned to selected ones of the plurality of items included in the assortment data; and,   the output device of the kiosk device is operative for recording promotion information corresponding to the promotion data on the tangible medium.   
     
     
         4 . The system for automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the kiosk device includes a memory storing second promotion data representative of second promotion close out categories assigned to a plurality of items associated with the kiosk device; and,   the output device of the kiosk device is operative for recording second promotion information corresponding to selected second promotion data on the tangible medium in accordance with a predetermined promotion policy.   
     
     
         5 . The system for automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the data storage of the portable device is operative to receive, as the promotion data, brand recommendation data representative of a promoted source category assigned to selected ones of the plurality of items included in the assortment data; and,   the output device of the kiosk device is operative for recording brand recommendation promotion information corresponding to the brand recommendation data on the tangible medium.   
     
     
         6 . The system for automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the kiosk device includes a memory storing coupon data representative of pricing discounts assigned to a plurality of items associated with the kiosk device or with the selected ones of the plurality of items include din the assortment data; and,   the output device of the kiosk device is operative for recording coupons corresponding to selected coupon data on the tangible medium in accordance with a predetermined discount price policy.   
     
     
         7 . The system for automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 1 , wherein the signal generating and signal receiving circuits are operable to selectively communicate by a wireless connection, an electronic port connection, or both wireless and electronic port connections. 
     
     
         8 . The system for automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 1 , wherein the signal receiving circuit of the kiosk device is operable to selectively communicate with a plurality of portable devices by a wireless connection, an electronic port connection, or both wireless and electronic port connections 
     
     
         9 . A method of automated compiling and generating categorized item list information, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a data input of a portable device from an associated user during each of a plurality of transactions, first input specifying a corresponding plurality of user-selected items;   storing in a data storage of the portable device received assortment data corresponding to each of the plurality of user-selected items, and category data representative of item categories assigned to each of the plurality of items included in the assortment data;   receiving, by a user input of the portable device a list generation instruction;   responsive to the list generation instruction, compiling by a list generator of the portable device the plurality of user selected items specified during each of the plurality of transactions and to generate categorized item list information representative of each of the user selected items categorized in accordance with the assigned category such that at least two of the user-selected items are listed contiguously and associatively with a corresponding category;   selectively generating by a signal generating circuit of the portable device an item list signal representative of the categorized item list information;   selectively receiving the item list signal by a signal receiving circuit of a kiosk device in operative communication with the signal generating circuit of the portable device;   generating received categorized item list data by a convertor circuit of the kiosk device in accordance with the received item list signal; and   generating, by a human user interface of the kiosk device a human readable display representative of the categorized item list information in accordance with the received categorized item list data.   
     
     
         10 . The method of automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 recording, by an output device of the kiosk device, the human readable display on a tangible medium.   
     
     
         11 . The method of automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 storing, by the data storage of the portable device, promotion data representative of promotion categories assigned to selected ones of the plurality of items included in the assortment data; and,   recording, by the output device of the kiosk device, promotion information corresponding to the promotion data on the tangible medium.   
     
     
         12 . The method of automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing, by a memory of the kiosk device, second promotion data representative of second promotion categories assigned to a plurality of items associated with the kiosk device; and,   recording, by the output device of the kiosk device, second promotion information corresponding to selected second promotion data on the tangible medium in accordance with a predetermined promotion policy.   
     
     
         13 . The method of automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving as the promotion data, by the data storage of the portable device, brand recommendation data representative of a promoted source category assigned to selected ones of the plurality of items included in the assortment data; and,   recording, by the output device of the kiosk device, brand recommendation promotion information corresponding to the brand recommendation data on the tangible medium.   
     
     
         14 . The method of automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 storing, by a memory of the kiosk device, coupon data representative of pricing discounts assigned to a plurality of items associated with the kiosk device or with the selected ones of the plurality of items include din the assortment data; and,   recording, by the output device of the kiosk device, coupons corresponding to selected coupon data on the tangible medium in accordance with a predetermined discount price policy.   
     
     
         15 . The method of automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 9 , further comprising selectively communicating by the signal generating and signal receiving circuits using a wireless connection, an electronic port connection, or both wireless and electronic port connections. 
     
     
         16 . The method of automated compiling and generating item list information of  claim 9 , further comprising selectively communicating, by the signal receiving circuit of the kiosk device, to selectively communicate with a plurality of portable devices by a wireless connection, an electronic port connection, or both wireless and electronic port connections.