Shopping Apparatus and Methods

Abstract

Methods and apparatus related to enabling a shopper to utilize a mobile electronic device to enhance the shopping experience. A shopper may utilize the mobile electronic device to access retail store-specific information regarding the location of items in a retail store. A mobile electronic device may be utilized to compile an electronic shopping list and/or transmit an electronic shopping list. Locations of one or more items in the retail store may be associated with items on the electronic shopping list.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method, comprising:
 receiving data from a mobile electronic device of a shopper in response to the shopper scanning a code on a shopping apparatus at a physical store utilizing the mobile electronic device;   identifying the shopper based on the data received from the mobile electronic device;   identifying the physical store based on the data received from the mobile electronic device;   providing a pecuniary reward to the shopper in response to scanning of the code by the mobile electronic device and notifying the shopper of the pecuniary reward via the mobile electronic device; and   in response to scanning of the code, directing the mobile electronic device to at least one screen containing information related to at least the physical store.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information is pertinent only to the physical store. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the information includes at least one special specific only to the physical store. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the information includes at least one coupon specific to at least the physical store. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pecuniary reward includes at least one coupon specific to at least the physical store. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a further pecuniary reward to the shopper after the scanning of the code utilizing the mobile electronic device, the further pecuniary reward provided in response to receiving an indication of at least one further action by the shopper within the physical store. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one further action within the physical store includes viewing of additional information related to an in-store product utilizing the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the code on the shopping apparatus contains an identifier of the physical store and wherein the data received from the mobile electronic device that is utilized to identify the physical store comprises physical store data that is based on the identifier of the physical store contained in the code. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data received from the mobile electronic device comprises physical store data that is based on geolocation data determined at the computing device. 
     
     
         10 . A computer implemented method, comprising:
 receiving data from a mobile electronic device of a shopper in response to the shopper scanning a code on a shopping cart at a physical store utilizing the mobile electronic device, the data including shopper identification data;   identifying a pecuniary reward for the shopper based on the shopper identification data;   providing a pecuniary reward to the shopper in response to receiving the data from the mobile electronic device; and   directing the mobile electronic device to display at least one screen after receiving the data from the mobile electronic device, the screen containing information related to the pecuniary reward for the shopper.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising crediting the pecuniary reward to a pecuniary rewards account of the shopper. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing a further pecuniary reward to the shopper after receiving the data, the further pecuniary reward provided in response to receiving an indication of at least one further action by the shopper within the physical store. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the further pecuniary reward includes a cash kickback for viewing of additional information by the shopper, the additional information related to an item barcode scanned by the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising enabling the shopper to share the pecuniary reward with third parties via the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising enabling the shopper to share a selected percentage of the pecuniary reward with each of a plurality of third parties via the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . A computer implemented method, comprising:
 receiving data in response to a shopper checking-in utilizing a code on a visible location of a shopping apparatus at a particular retail location utilizing a mobile electronic device particularized to the shopper;   identifying a pecuniary reward for the shopper based on the data;   identifying a rewards account of the shopper based on the data;   crediting the rewards account for the shopper with the pecuniary reward in response to receiving the data; and   providing a notification to the mobile electronic device, the notification notifying the shopper of the pecuniary reward in the rewards account.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing an additional notification of a further pecuniary reward to the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the further pecuniary reward is provided after receiving the data in response to the shopper checking-in and after at least one further recordable action within the retail store. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the shopper checking-in utilizing the code comprises the shopper scanning the code utilizing the mobile electronic device particularized to the shopper. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 identifying the particular retail location based on the data received from the mobile electronic device; and   providing to the mobile electronic device electronic information for the particular retail location.