FIELD

The described embodiments relate to an apparatus, system and method for interactive packaging to determine purchase eligibility of a product for a user.

BACKGROUND

Many products available for purchase in stores are not suitable for all users. The packaging for such products includes information, often in small-print, used to determine purchase eligibility for a user. Purchase eligibility refers to whether a user meets a set of criteria for purchase of the product.

It is a challenge for some users to read all the information on a product package and determine if they meet the purchase eligibility criteria. There exists a desire for better packaging to aid in determining purchase eligibility for a user. It is challenging to determine purchase eligibility for a user because of the diversity in users, products and associated purchase eligibility criteria.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, some embodiments provide an interactive product package for determining purchase eligibility for a user. The interactive product package comprises a container for holding the product defined by an at least one wall; a display device attached to the at least one wall; an input device attached to the at least one wall for receiving user input, and if the user input matches a predetermined value, presenting a purchase identifier.

In at least one embodiment, the container is removably attached to the product.

In at least one embodiment, the container is a removably locking anti-theft device.

In at least one embodiment, the display device is attached inside the at least one wall.

In at least one embodiment, the display device is attached outside the at least one wall.

In at least one embodiment, the display device is a liquid crystal display.

In at least one embodiment, the display device is an electronic ink display.

In at least one embodiment, the purchase identifier is a radio-frequency identifier.

In at least one embodiment, the purchase identifier is a barcode identifier.

In at least one embodiment, the interactive product package further comprises a sensor device for sensor input; and wherein the user input further comprises sensor input.

In at least one embodiment, the sensor device is a biometric sensor.

In at least one embodiment, the sensor device is a camera.

In another aspect, in accordance with the teachings herein, there is provided a method for determining product purchase eligibility for a user. The method comprises: displaying, at a display device, at least one purchase eligibility question to the user; validating, at a processor, the product purchase eligibility of the user, by, for each candidate eligibility question in the at least one purchase eligibility questions: receiving, at an input device, a user input selection corresponding to the candidate question; and comparing, at the processor, the user input selection to a corresponding predetermined value; if each user input selection matches the corresponding predetermined value: presenting a purchase identifier associated with the product.

In another aspect, in accordance with the teachings herein, there is provided an interactive product package system for determining purchase eligibility for a user comprising an input device; a display device; a memory comprising at least one purchase eligibility question; and a processor in communication with the input device, the display device, and the memory. The processor is configured to validate the product purchase eligibility of the user, by, for each candidate eligibility question in the at least one purchase eligibility questions: display, at the display device, the candidate question; receive, from the input device, a user input selection corresponding to the candidate question; and compare the user input selection to a corresponding predetermined value. If each user input selection matches the corresponding predetermined value, the processor is configured to present a purchase identifier associated with the product.

In another aspect, in accordance with the teachings herein, there is provided a method for determining product purchase eligibility for a user comprising: validating, at a processor, the purchase eligibility of the user based on an eligibility tree, by: displaying, at a display device, a candidate question to the user, the candidate question belonging to the eligibility tree; receiving, at an input device, a user input selection corresponding to the candidate question; comparing, at the processor, the user input selection to an expected answer; determining, based on the comparing, a next branch of the eligibility tree; determining, based on the next branch of the eligibility tree, a next candidate question; if each user input selection matches the corresponding predetermined value: presenting a purchase identifier associated with the product.

In another aspect, in accordance with the teachings herein, there is provided an interactive product package system for determining purchase eligibility for a user comprising: an input device; a display device; a memory comprising: an eligibility tree comprising at least one purchase eligibility question; a processor in communication with the input device, the display device, and the memory. The processor is configured to: validate the purchase eligibility of the user based on an eligibility tree, by: displaying, at the display device, a candidate question to the user, the candidate question belonging to the eligibility tree; receiving, from the input device, a user input selection corresponding to the candidate question; comparing the user input selection to an expected answer; determining based on the comparison, a next branch of the eligibility tree; determining based on the next branch of the eligibility tree, a next candidate question. If each user input selection matches the corresponding predetermined value, the processor is configured to present a purchase identifier associated with the product.

