Various embodiments are directed to overlaying relevant product information in augmented reality via the use of near-field communication (NFC) and a product selection system. A user may authenticate into an application or user profile. Information about the user in the user profile may be used to determine which products are relevant to the user. Information related to the relevant products may then be displayed to the user in augmented reality, which improves at least the overall shopping and in-store experience.

A wireless tag reading device of an embodiment that is for reading tag information of a wireless tag attached to an article housed in a housing portion, including: a bottom surface portion; and a plurality of side surface portions erected upward from an end of the bottom surface portion, the housing portion being surrounded by the bottom surface portion and the side surface portions, in which the wireless tag reading device includes: inside the side surface portions, an antenna that radiates a radio wave into the housing portion; a radio wave reflecting unit that is provided outside the antenna and that reflects the radio wave radiated from the antenna toward the housing portion; and a radio wave absorbing unit that is provided at an upper portion of the radio wave reflecting unit and that absorbs the radio wave radiated from the antenna.

An article registration apparatus (100) includes: a reading unit (102) that reads article identification information from an IC tag associated with an article by using at least one of a plurality of antennas; a control unit (106) that controls the reading unit (102); a judgement unit (104) that judges whether a reading result of the reading unit (102) satisfies a criterion; and a determination unit (108) that determines the article identification information read by the reading unit (102), wherein the control unit (106) causes the reading unit (102) to read the article identification information by using a first antenna, the judgement unit (104) judges whether a reading result of the first antenna satisfies the criterion, the control unit (106) causes the reading unit (102) to read the article identification information by using a second antenna different from the first antenna when the reading result of the first antenna satisfies the criterion, and the determination unit (108) determines the article identification information to be output, by using the article identification information read by using the first antenna and the second antenna.

A wireless tag reading device of an embodiment includes: a housing portion formed by a bottom surface portion and a side surface portion erected upward from the bottom surface portion; an opening through which an article is allowed to be taken in and out of the housing portion; a reading unit that reads tag information from a wireless tag attached to the article housed in the housing portion via the opening by transmitting and receiving a radio wave to and from the wireless tag; a detection unit that detects a position of the article in the housing portion; and an announcement unit that makes an announcement to prompt approach of the article to a predetermined position of the housing portion based on output of the detection unit.

An electronic medication storage cabinet includes a plurality of drawers configured with a plurality of sensors arranged to identify a positioning of storage pockets within the drawers. Upon receiving an indication of a new medicine container to be loaded in the cabinet, a sequence of steps to load the medicine container into the cabinet is generated based on a mapping algorithm. A first step is displayed on a display the cabinet, and a determination is made as to whether the first step is associated with one of the plurality of drawers. In response to determining that the first step is associated with one of the plurality of drawers, the drawer is automatically unlocked. In response to determining that the first step is successfully completed, a determination of whether execution of any additional steps is pending and indicated on the display.

Various embodiments are directed to overlaying relevant product information in augmented reality via the use of near-field communication (NFC) and a product selection system. A user may authenticate into an application or user profile. Information about the user in the user profile may be used to determine which products are relevant to the user. Information related to the relevant products may then be displayed to the user in augmented reality, which improves at least the overall shopping and in-store experience.

A system for reading RFID tags or labels on merchandise in a shopping cart or basket includes a chamber sized and configured to receive a shopping cart or basket. The chamber includes a portal sized and configured to accommodate a shopping cart or basket, along with an associated closure that is movable between open and closed conditions. At least one antenna coupled to an RFID reader is associated with an interior of the chamber and oriented to send signals to and receive signals from RFID tags or labels on merchandise in a shopping cart or basket within the chamber. The chamber and the closure are configured to prevent signals sent to and from RFID tags or labels on merchandise in a shopping cart or basket within the chamber from exiting the chamber. A transport mechanism may be provided to automatically move the shopping cart or basket through the chamber.

The present disclosure provides for radio frequency identification in self-checkout via a first product pathway; a single Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) antenna, having a first scanning zone aligned with the first product pathway; wherein the first product pathway is configured to: position a first set of objects within the first scanning zone at a first position relative to the single RFID antenna at a first time; and position the first set of object within the first scanning zone at a second position relative to the single RFID, different than the first position, at a second time; and wherein the single RFID antenna is configured to: receive, at the first time, a first set of identifier signals associated with at least some of the first set of objects; and receive, at the second time, a second set of identifier signals associated with at least some of the first set of objects.

A mechanized store uses a mobile device to authenticate the user. Items removed from one or more displays of the mechanized store by the user are tracked and a list of items removed by the user is updated. The list of items removed is linked with an account of the user.

An article management system according to the present invention includes: an acquisition unit that acquires article identification information, which is read from a storage medium provided to an article that passed through an article arrival port and identifies the article, by using a wireless communication device provided at the article arrival port of a shop; and a registration unit that registers the article information in a storage device so that whether or not an arrival state of the article in the shop is an arrived state and whether or not a display state of the article in the shop is a not-displayed state for the article corresponding to the article identification information acquired by the acquisition unit can be extracted from the storage device storing article information in which the article identification information, the arrival state, and the display state are associated with each other.