The invention is to provide a system capable of engaging in barter under which the market prices are approximately equivalent. The barter support system includes: a database that registers a plurality of articles and a plurality of market prices; a market price calculation unit that calculates the market price of a registered article; a retrieval unit that retrieves an article from the database based on the market price of the registered article; a display unit that associates and displays the registered article with a retrieved article; an article selection unit that receives selection of a retrieved article desired to be exchanged for the registered article from the registrant; and an exchange notification unit that notifies an exchange request to the owner of the retrieved article selected by the registrant.

A computerized system collects used vehicle data regarding vehicles available for sale from numerous sources (e.g., as from a vehicle auction system), and modifies and supplements such vehicle data for presentation to the consuming public in a searchable manner such that a single entity (e.g., a specific dealer) can offer all of the vehicles for sale to consumers while accounting for the various costs that will be incurred by the selling entity to successfully complete the sales transaction.

Some embodiments provide methods and systems of monitoring trash cans. A central computer system of a shopping facility identifies a first motorized transport unit and a second motorized transport unit; communicates routing instructions based on a mapping of the shopping facility to each of the first and second motorized transport units directing the first and second motorized transport units to a trash can receptacle, wherein the second motorized transport unit transports a replacement second trash can; communicates trash can removal instruction to the first motorized transport unit to cause the first motorized transport unit to remove the first trash can from the trash can receptacle; and communicates a trash can replacement instruction to the second motorized transport unit to cause the second motorized transport unit to place the second trash can into the trash can receptacle in place of the first trash can.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for sorting items discarded in a shopping facility. A system for sorting discarded items comprises a motorized transport unit configured to travel around discarded items placed in a sorting area in the shopping facility, the motorized transport unit comprises a sensor device and an item mover device, an item characterization database storing characteristics corresponding to a plurality of items likely to be found in the shopping facility, and a central computer system. The central computer system is configured to receive data from the sensor device on the motorized transport unit, determine an item characteristic of an item among the discarded items in the sorting area, determine a sorting category of the item from a plurality of predefined categories, and cause the motorized transport unit to move the item, with the item mover device, from the sorting area into a category area.

An apparatus comprises a plurality of motorized mobile retail facility personal assistance apparatuses and a central computer system. The central computer system includes a network interface that permits the central computer system to wirelessly communicate with the mobile apparatuses and also with at least one user interface unit. Upon receiving a request to use one of the mobile apparatuses, the central computer system assigns an available apparatuses for use by a user during a usage session. This activity can include interfacing with the user to determine one or more specifics regarding their current needs in these regards. The specifics of their needs, in turn, can provide a basis for assigning a particular apparatus from amongst a plurality of differently purposed and differently configured apparatuses.

Methods and systems can be provided for providing items manufactured on demand to users. A user request for an item can be received. The item can have 3D manufacturing instructions associated therewith. A delivery method for the item can be determined. A manufacturing apparatus can be selected to manufacture the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions. Instructions can be sent to the manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions. Delivery instructions can be provided for delivering the item according to the delivery method.

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a consumer purchase decision scoring tool are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a target identifier that identifies a target product. The example method also includes calculating a buy score for the target product.

A shopping guide robot system and an associated customer identification notification method. The system comprises the shopping guide robot and a background service terminal. A body of the shopping guide robot has a control unit, a movement unit, a communication module and a camera unit that collect images. The control unit has a customer identification module, which identifies a human face in an image and sends a first signal after determining that the human face is a customer. The control unit receives the first signal and sends a second signal to the background service terminal through the communication module. The background service terminal receives the second signal and sends a notification signal. In this manner, background personnel does not need to stare at a monitoring screen constantly to view whether a customer needs to be served. A background automatically prompts whether a customer enters or needs help, reducing work strength.

An augmented reality commercial platform is provided to simulate a product in an environment. The augmented reality commercial platform may include a merchant component, consumer component, augmentation engine, illustrator component, and monetization component. A method to simulate a product in an environment using the augmented reality commercial platform is also provided.

The time from when the sale and purchase are made to when the product is delivered is to be reduced. The system for sales support includes: a memory unit that stores management information associated with information on a product before the sale and purchase are made with an deliverable date when a seller of the product is to deliver the product to a courier; a notifying-to-courier unit that notifies a courier of the deliverable date if the sale and purchase are made; a receiving unit that receives a response to the notification from the courier; and a notifying-to-seller unit that notifies the seller of the product of the received response.